Utilization of biofeedback for examination of differences in reaction to workload between inchoative pilots and chosen students outside of training program

Abstract

Paper describes research applications of biofeedback on psychological resistance analysis. Using scientific methods paper evaluated influence of stress and mental resistance of probands: pilots in training so-called cadets and volunteers not involved in piloting of any kind, so-called „nonpilots“. Devices Muse 2 and CorSence Elite are used to examine R-R intervals, sympathetic/parasympathetic activity ratio and brain activity during each examination sessions. Theses also aim at answering two core hypotheses. Do the pilots have greater mental resistance against stress due to training and frequent exposure to a highly stressful environment? And, are we able to find the answer to the previous question using the biofeedback examination method? Nonpilot group had 2,47 times thinner R-R interval than the pilot group and also had SNS index 1,77 times higher than the one in the pilot group. Unusual data can be observed once we look at the PNS index. According to data calculations, the final PNS index in the pilot group is 0,816 and the nonpilot group 0,7075 This situation can be described by the known effect of physical subsystems which can deviate these indexes. Significant differences between examined values verify hypothesis which says frequent exposure to highly stressful environment causes high mental resistance against stress for pilots. It is also safe to say that cardiologic biofeedback is a reliable tool for complex examination of induces stress levels. It wasn’t managed to verify MUSE 2 technology due to inconclusive data. It is believed that distortion of data from MUSE 2 is a consequence of a hygienic face mask. This exposure of its weakness shows brand new information for using such technologies.