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Background: High-frequency EEG (HFE) as a potential predictor of alertness/drowsiness was first proposed by Kaplan and Loparo. Sampling EEG at 950 Hz, they established an HFE bandwidth of interest ranging from 100-475 Hz. We extend their work by applying discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of HFE signals sampled at 1000 Hz and partitioned into spectral bands along specific frequency ranges for the assessment of sleep-wake state transition, sleep, and active cognitive engagement., Methods: There were 13 volunteers (6 men, 7 women, 30 +/- 3 yr) who participated in a 40-h sleep-deprivation study, during which time they performed multiple cognitive tasks. EEG, in synchrony with other physiological signals, was collected at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz. EEG and task performance results from two volunteers are discussed in this preliminary analysis of the C3-C4 region data. Spectral components obtained from DFT are delineated into five main frequency bands: low, (LFB, 1-15 Hz); intermediate (IFB, 16-50 Hz); and 3 high frequency bands: HFB1 (51-100 Hz); HFB2 (101-200 Hz); and HFB3 (201-500 Hz) for analysis purposes., Results: LFB in the 1-15 Hz range at 0.40 spectrum proportion indicated declining alertness; LFB above 0.50 signals transition to sleep; and LFB at 0.70 indicates Stage 2/3 sleep. HFB3 in the 201-500 Hz range at 0.25 and above was a marker of cognitive function and/or capacity., Conclusions: HFE may provide a quantitative measure of cognitive function capacity. LFB may provide a measure for awake, asleep, or awake-sleep transition, and HFB3 an estimate of cognitive task engagement. HFE may be applied for electroencephalographic monitoring of cognitive performance.

Introduction: Visual perception task, complex motor flight task, and psychomotor vigilance task performances were evaluated in U.S. Air Force pilots navigating a high-fidelity fixed wing jet simulator over 26.5 h of continuous wakefulness., Methods: Eight military pilots on flight status performed the primary task of flying a simulated 12.5-h overnight mission in an Air Refueling Part Task Trainer (ARPTT): Response omission to presentation of single- and double-light stimuli displayed in random sequence across the cockpit instrument panel was the metric used to assess choice visual perception task (CVPT) performance. Deviation from an established azimuth heading in the ARPTT during the CVPT was the flight metric used to assess complex motor performance. Speed, lapse, false start, and anticipation were the metrics used to assess psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance during crew rest periods., Results: Significant visual perceptual, complex motor, and psychomotor vigilance (speed and lapse) impairments occurred at 19 h awake in the eight-subject group. CVPT response omissions significantly correlated with ARPTT azimuth deviations at r = 0.97, and with PVT speed at r = -0.92 and lapses at r = 0.90. ARPTT azimuth deviations significantly correlated with PVT speed at r = -0.92 and lapses at r = 0.91., Conclusions: Acute sleep deprivation degrades visual perceptual, complex motor, and simple motor performance. Complex motor impairments strongly correlate with visual perceptual impairments. This research provides support for the use of visual perceptual measures as surrogates of complex motor performance in operational situations where the primary cognitive inputs are through the visual system.