Acquired Brain Strain and Brain Injury Risk in Naval Aviators
Grant
Overview
abstract
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The goal of this study is to estimate the brain strain and its associated risk for traumatic brain injury in carrier-based naval aviators. Anecdotal reports of neural symptoms after a career as a fighter pilot have generated concern that the sudden deceleration due to the landing traps and acceleration due to catapult or STEAM launches could result in long term injury. We will show that pilots? heads can be instrumented (a)without nuisance and (b) with adequate head-sensor coupling. We then propose to measure individual exposure to carrier (catapult or STEAM) take-off, trap landings, and vibrations/acceleration using personnel applied accelerometers during operations. Reconstructed head kinematics will include fully resolved time histories of the head translational and rotational velocities and accelerations. Once obtained, the peak angular velocity and peak angular rotations will be analyzed to estimate actual brain strains and brain strain rates. Additionally we will measure change in biomechanical and sensorimotor markers of neural function (brain imaging, balance control, and eye tracking) post flight. We will compare neural function changes pre/post flight to other military pilots, exposed to vibration and g-force risks, but not sudden takeoffs and landings to isolate these effects.
date/time interval
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September 2026 - August 2027
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