ABSTRACT
The main goal of the present study, was to assess changes in pilot’s performance and mental effort associated with positive vertical acceleration (+Gz) and task load. Performance was reflected by reaction time and the number of response errors on a reaction time task, and mental effort was indicated by heart rate variability and self-reports. The results show that pilots were able to maintain task execution times during acceleration profiles at the cost of more errors toward the end of the task, reflecting a speed-accuracy trade-off. Even after normal acceleration had been restored, performance remained impaired. It is discussed that task load increases perceived mental effort during +Gz, and that +Gz may have ‘delayed’ adverse effects on performance. This may have practical implications for actual flights involving acceleration: preparing a mission in advance may allow the pilot to anticipate or compensate for degraded performance, making the total mission more effective.
