EXPOSURE OF MEN TO INTERMITTENT PHOTIC STIMULATION UNDER SIMULATED IFR CONDITIONS
Abstract
Ten men were subjected to intermittent photic stimulation in an airplane cockpit in an environmental chamber by (1) a Grimes red rotating beacon (1.5 FPS), (2) an Air Guard strobe light (1.0 FPS) and (3) propeller flicker (10 FPS). IFR conditions were simulated by passing steam into the cooled chamber. Electroencephalograms and electrooculograms were recorded for the 10 minute period prior to photic stimulation, during 10 minutes of photic stimulation, and for 10 minutes after stimulation. None of the lights provoked seizure, syncope, nystagmus or photic driving. The strobe light evoked complaints of irritation from 7 of the subjects and caused pacing of the alpha rhythm together with pulsating pupils. Three subjects became drowsy during the Grimes light, six became drowsy during propeller flicker, none complained of drowsiness during the strobe light. These sources of intermittent light appear to be innocuous to normal people. The commonest complaint was annoyance. Drowsiness was probably due to the environment and nature of the task.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0646872
Entities
People
- C. E. Melton
- E. A. Higgins
- J. T. Saldivar
- S. Marlene Wicks
Organizations
- Federal Aviation Administration