New ICEMAN Project Seeks Answers to Fighter Pilot Disorientation [Health Matters]

Abstract

Overview

The study examines the ambient RF-EM field levels in fighter aircraft cockpits, which currently remain unclear. The need for quantitative surveys and measurements is emphasized to assess potential effects on pilots' brain activity and overall neurophysiology.

Findings

• Exposure to high-power microwave pulses can induce two types of auditory responses in humans and mammals, potentially impacting cognitive performance and response.
• These effects include the microwave auditory effect and an acoustically induced startle reflex, which can lead to spatial disorientation (SD) in pilots.

Conclusion

The text calls for neurophysiological and psychophysical studies to further explore these effects in pulsed microwave-exposed animals, contributing to a clearer understanding of behavioral and performance responses.