Functional magnetic resonance imaging of mental strategy in a simulated aviation performance task

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the sensory and cogn itive functions associated with activated brain regions characterizing ment al strategy relative to degree of expertise in aviation-related tasks. Meth ods: We used echo-planar functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techn ique to examine brain activity in expert pilots (n = 6) compared with novic e pilots (n = 6) during performance of a simulated aviation track-following task at 200 knots vs. 100 knots. Results: Expert pilots showed reduced act ivity in visual and motor regions that contrasted with predominant activati on within anterior structures including the frontal and prefrontal cortices ; structures involved in visual working memory, planning, selective attenti on and decision making functions. Novice pilots showed widespread activatio n of anterior and posterior brain structures, with a rise in activity in th e visual, parietal and motor cortices as task difficulty increased. Conclus ions: A high level of performance in the track-following task related to a high degree of expertise in the aviation field. This corresponded to expert s performing perceptual and mnemonic processing through a network of specia lized functions from visual through multiple prefrontal areas. By contrast, the novice pilots predominantly show activity associated with non-specific perceptual processing and without subsequent representation of selective i nformation in working memory.