Quantitative Electroencephalographic (QEEG) Data Analysis for the Performance Sustainment of Two Man Crews Throughout 87 Hours of Extended Wakefulness with Stimulants (Dextroamphetamine, Caffeine, Modafinil) and Napping; Final rept

摘要

Military operations require army aviation units to operate around the clock during time of conflict. Sleep management, naps, and pharmacological fatigue countermeasures may be combined to assist in achieving successful military outcomes. We used QEEG methodologies in an effort to elucidate the CNS effects of stimulants (modafinil, dextroamphetamine and caffeine) and nap combined with the sleep deprivation factor. In regards to sleep deprivation effects, results indicate that by the end of the study all groups experienced increases in slow-waves (mainly delta) and decreases in alpha waves. Caffeine, modafinil, and dextroamphetamine, respectively, reversed during the initial 42 hours the electrophysiologic effects of sleep deprivation with smaller increases in delta activity and less deterioration of alpha activities. Caffeine and modafinil appeared to have the greatest degree of effect with respect to producing delays on alpha activity deterioration. Alpha activity remained close to baseline levels for the first 46 hours. We observe a marked deterioration of alpha after 22 hours in the dextroamphetamine and placebo groups. There is virtually no increase in theta activity across the sleep deprivation cycle, for all groups, including placebo. These may represent effort levels consistently across all groups. Additional analysis could systematically correlate cognitive tasks and QEEG data for each pharmacologic intervention.