Simulator-induced spatial disorientation: effects of age, sleep deprivation, and type of conflict.

Introduction: Spatial disorientation mishaps are greater at night and with greater time on task, and sleep deprivation is known to decrease cognitive and overall flight performance. However, the ability to perceive and to be influenced by physiologically appropriate simulated SD conflicts has not previously been studied in an automated simulator flight profile.

Methods: A set of 10 flight profiles were flown by 10 U.