Front Line Research / Nuclear Energy System Safety Engineering / Laboratories / QSE

Front Line Research
Through functional neuroimaging, we have discovered distinctive neural networks in air traffic controllers' brains. We seek to utilize the knowledge gained to create safer skies.

Air traffic controllers' job: where higher level of expertise is required.

According to "Aircraft Movements 2011 FINAL," the average number of takeoffs and landings at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) per day is 1,040. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Georgia, USA), which is said to be the busiest airport in the world, handles about 2,530 aircrafts per day, according to the same report. While we cannot make simple comparisons between the two due to differences in airport size, the number of runways and other factors, what they do have in common is an anticipated continued increase in demand.

Air traffic controllers play an important role in safely and effectively controlling the skies that have become crowded with flights. Many people know about what they do as they have often been the subject of TV shows and novels. While responding rapidly to ever-changing factors such as wind direction and weather, aircraft characteristics, remaining fuel, or someone who may require emergency treatment, air traffic controllers are responsible for maintaining smooth flight navigation. Their jobs require higher level of expertise.

Takahashi Laboratory has been involved in the research of the human factor in aviation for more than 10 years. In the beginning, we explored cockpit interfaces which are composed of multiple elements such as gauges, switches and monitors alongside pilots in active duty. Thereafter, focusing on air traffic controllers, we have been expanding our research into cognitive systems engineering employing functional neuroimaging.

The active regions of an air traffic controller's brain. It shows that the right premotor cortex, superior parietal lobe and left frontal lobe are vigorously activated.

We analyze the distinctive brain functions of active air traffic controllers through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Air traffic control relies heavily on the reliability of the controllers and the human factor plays a crucial role in ensuring safety. Responsible for multiple aircrafts simultaneously, "memory and spatial awareness skills" become especially important in order to perceive three-dimensional space from a radar's flat display panel.

In cooperation and collaboration with Kawashima Laboratory of this university's Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, which is known as one of the world's leading neuroscience research centers, Takahashi Laboratory has been working on brain functional analysis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to search for the differences in brain functions between active air traffic controllers and inexperienced ones. With their consent and cooperation, we conducted mental imagery tests on them and the test results indicated that the spatial awareness skills of air traffic controllers were significantly superior compared to inexperienced ones. Looking at the fMRI images, we found out that the parts of the brain that construct and process space were activated (see the diagram). Distinctive neural networks needed for their work exist in air traffic controllers' brains, and it is thought that these networks are created through specialized training and on-the-job training.

By probing into the behaviors of the brain, which is at the core of the human factor, Takahashi Laboratory is conducting research and development of practical training programs which will aid in the improvement of the safety of highly-complex systems.

A microminiature near-infrared spectrometer (NIRS) attached to the head can non-invasively map brain functions by using near-infrared rays on the scalp. This microminiature NIRS was jointly developed by Hitachi, Ltd. and Kawashima Laboratory, and it measures the region of the brain that processes empathy in real time.

Safety Engineering of Nuclear Systems Nuclear Energy System Safety Engineering

Front Line Research Through functional neuroimaging, we have discovered distinctive neural networks in air traffic controllers' brains. We seek to utilize the knowledge gained to create safer skies.

Air traffic controllers' job: where higher level of expertise is required.

We analyze the distinctive brain functions of active air traffic controllers through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Laboratories

Safety Engineering of Nuclear Systems
Nuclear Energy System Safety Engineering

Front Line Research
Through functional neuroimaging, we have discovered distinctive neural networks in air traffic controllers' brains. We seek to utilize the knowledge gained to create safer skies.