The Effects of Spatial Disorientation on Cognitive Processing

Abstract

Previous research exploring the relationship between spatial orientation and cognition shows that if balance and orientation are unstable, there is a natural tendency to direct all mental resources to regaining orientation. To expand this line of research, this study examined how disorientation affects aviators' cognition while actively piloting a flight simulator. Thirty-six UH-60 aviators participated in the study, and were asked to perform cognitive tests (presented aurally) as they flew oriented and disoriented flight profiles. Test accuracy was significantly worse for the disoriented condition than the two oriented conditions for both cognitive tests.