The impact of brain size on pilot performance varies with aviation training and years of education

Author:

ADAMSON MAHEEN M.,SAMARINA VIKTORIYA,XIANGYAN XU,HUYNH VIRGINIA,KENNEDY QUINN,WEINER MICHAEL,YESAVAGE JEROME,TAYLOR JOY L.

Abstract

AbstractPrevious studies have consistently reported age-related changes in cognitive abilities and brain structure. Previous studies also suggest compensatory roles for specialized training, skill, and years of education in the age-related decline of cognitive function. The Stanford/VA Aviation Study examines the influence of specialized training and skill level (expertise) on age-related changes in cognition and brain structure. This preliminary report examines the effect of aviation expertise, years of education, age, and brain size on flight simulator performance in pilots aged 45–68 years. Fifty-one pilots were studied with structural magnetic resonance imaging, flight simulator, and processing speed tasks. There were significant main effects of age (p < .01) and expertise (p < .01), but not of whole brain size (p > .1) or education (p > .1), on flight simulator performance. However, even though age and brain size were correlated (r = −0.41), age differences in flight simulator performance were not explained by brain size. Both aviation expertise and education were involved in an interaction with brain size in predicting flight simulator performance (p < .05). These results point to the importance of examining measures of expertise and their interactions to assess age-related cognitive changes. (JINS, 2010, 16, 412–423.)

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Subject

Psychiatry and Mental health,Clinical Neurology,Clinical Psychology,General Neuroscience

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