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Age features of psychophysiological function transformation in military helicopter pilots of different qualifications. Report II. considering the experience of pilots of different ages

Age features of psychophysiological function transformation in military helicopter pilots of different qualifications. Report II. considering the experience of pilots of different ages

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.20, No 2, 2024


https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2024.02.079

Kalnysh V.V.1,2, Pashkovskyi S.M.3, Pashkovska O.V.4

Age features of psychophysiological function transformation in military helicopter pilots of different qualifications. Report II. considering the experience of pilots of different ages

1 State Institution «Kundiiev Institute of Occupational Health of the National Academy of Medical Science of Ukraine», Kyiv
2 Ukrainian Military Medical Academy, Kyiv
3 Military Medical Clinical Center of the Central Region, Vinnytsia
4 11th regional military medical commission, Vinnytsia


Full article (PDF): UKR

Introduction. The age and experience of a helicopter pilot should influence their psychophysiological functions. This is due to specific changes in the human body that do not occur synchronously. Therefore, investigating the transformations of these functions over a long period is an important task. Typically, obtaining reliable information about these processes is limited by the small sample sizes. Such circumstances make it relevant to conduct an analysis of the transformation of psychophysiological professionally significant qualities of helicopter pilots in order to develop an adequately scientifically based paradigm for rationalizing the personnel composition of military units, especially during acute periods of military conflict.

The aim of the study is to identify the features of the influence of qualification on age-related changes in psychophysiological functions of military helicopter pilots.

Methods and scope of the study. To identify differences in their psychophysiological reactions considering age and qualification, 354 helicopter pilots aged 20-29 and 40-49 years with qualifications of 1-2 and 3-4 classes were examined during their stationary medical-flight examination at the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Central Region. The examination of the complex of psychophysiological functions was conducted using the software and hardware complex for psychophysiological research "PFI-2". Statistical data analysis was performed using methods of variation statistics with calculation of the reliability of differences in indicator levels using the Student's t-test at p<0.05.

Results. To identify the transformation features of psychophysiological functions in military helicopter pilots considering age and qualification, an analysis of levels of speed and cognitive parameters in age polar groups (20-29 years and 40-49 years) and qualification groups (1-2 classes and 3-4 classes) of these specialists was conducted. Three types of comparisons were made: with fixed age, fixed qualification, and cross-comparison (age 20-29 years with qualification 1-2 classes, age 40-49 years with qualification 3-4 classes, and age 20-29 years with qualification 3-4 classes, as well as age 40-49 years with qualification 1-2 classes). The obtained data regarding the transformation of psychophysiological functions in military helicopter pilots with age and qualification are presented.

Conclusions. 1. Speed and cognitive functions (attention concentration, spatial orientation, visual short-term memory) have different numbers of parameters that significantly differ in the studied groups of helicopter pilots. Age has a greater influence on speed characteristics, while cognitive characteristics are more resistant to the influence of age and depend fragmentarily on the experience of specialists. 2. It was found that in young specialists with low qualification (3-4 classes), significantly better reactions (simple and complex visual-motor reactions, functional mobility, and strength of nervous processes) and a higher level of mobilization efforts during testing (standard deviation of complex visual-motor reaction) are observed, as well as a higher level of activation of the nervous system based on reaction to moving objects, compared to their older colleagues (40-49 years) with the same qualification. 3. Helicopter pilots with high qualification (1-2 classes) of older age (40-49 years) have significantly worse results in many indicators than those with qualification 3-4 classes and aged 20-29 years, indicating the minimization of the influence of experience on the quality of speed functions. 4. It was established that the use of psychophysiological parameters of older helicopter pilots with high qualification due to age-related decrease in the level of psychophysiological functions may lead to underestimation of the requirements for professional suitability of pilots.

Keywords: age, experience, qualification, military helicopter pilots, psychophysiological functions, cognitive functions, speed functions.

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