When it comes to managing safety at 30,000 feet, technology, training, and checklists create an incredibly secure environment. Yet the human brain plays a key role in this system. How do pilots process information under stress? How does mental overload affect decision-making? And how can we design systems to support, not undermine, human cognitive performance?
These types of questions drive the pioneering work of Professor Frédéric Dehais, Chair of Neuroergonomics at ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse, France. A cognitive neuroscientist by training, Pr. Dehais is at the forefront of a growing field called neuroergonomics, the science of applying neuroscience principles to optimize human performance in real-world tasks. With aviation as his laboratory, Pr. Dehais uses brain-monitoring tools like head scanners, on ground and even more interestingly in-flight to better reflect real brain activity, to better understand and ultimately reduce the cognitive risks that can lead to pilot error.
His research, supported by the AXA Research Fund, is not merely academic; it has significant implications for improving how we manage human factor risks. Thus, Pr. Dehais and his team are helping to create a safer and smarter aviation future.
Neuroergonomics: understanding cognitive risk to minimise human error
Coined in the early 2000s, the term combines “neuroscience” and “ergonomics.” It examines how brain function affects performance in everyday environments, such as driving a car, operating a machine, or flying a plane. While traditional ergonomics might focus on physical design (e.g., seat positioning or control layout), neuroergonomics takes it a step further by examining human cognition.
Using tools such as EEG (electroencephalography) to monitor brain activity, eye-tracking devices, and physiological sensors, researchers can evaluate how operators handle attention, workload, stress, and fatigue in real time. The goal? To better align systems with the brain’s capabilities and limitations, particularly in high-risk domains like aviation, defense, medicine, and nuclear energy.
How neuroergonomics benefits aviation
Commercial aviation is one of the most tightly regulated and technologically advanced industries in the world. Modern cockpits are equipped with advanced automation designed to assist pilots in navigating complex flight scenarios. While the systems in place are designed to minimize any chance of error, there are ways to make them even more reliable by understanding how the human brain reacts to them.
“Automation can lull pilots into complacency,” Dehais explains. “It also creates situations where pilots are no longer in the loop until something goes wrong, and then they have to re-engage very quickly, under stress and time pressure.”
These so-called “out-of-the-loop” problems are classic challenges in human-machine interaction. When something unexpected occurs, such as a sensor failure or weather anomaly, pilots must quickly regain situational awareness, interpret ambiguous data, and make the right decision, all within seconds.
Pr. Dehais’ research focuses specifically on these moments. What’s happening in the brain when pilots overlook a warning? How do auditory distractions interfere with visual attention? Can we predict when a pilot is about to make a mistake?
Discovering “inattentional deafness”
One of Pr. Dehais’ most influential findings centers on a phenomenon known as inattentional deafness. While inattentional blindness (the failure to notice a visual cue due to cognitive overload) is fairly well known, Pr. Dehais demonstrated that, under high mental workload, individuals can fail to hear critical auditory alerts, even if the sound is clearly audible and familiar.
In simulated cockpit experiments, pilots were so focused on handling complex visual tasks that they didn’t react to broadcast / sound alarms or voice messages. EEG recordings revealed that the auditory signal had entered the brain but wasn’t processed at a conscious level.
This has significant implications for cockpit design and safety protocols. Relying on visual warning in addition to audio ones is proved to increase the efficiency of the pilots’ reactions. Instead, multimodal alerts or adaptive systems that monitor pilot workload and adjust alert strategies in real-time could prove to be much more effective.
From lab to flight deck: bridging research and practice
Pr. Dehais doesn’t just observe problems; he also works on solutions.
One approach involves integrating neuroadaptive technologies into the cockpit. These systems use real-time physiological data, such as EEG or heart rate variability, to assess a pilot’s cognitive state and adapt the interface accordingly. For example, if the system detects that a pilot is overloaded, it may simplify displays, suppress non-essential alerts, or switch to a more efficient communication mode.
Another innovation is the development of AI copilots—virtual agents trained to recognize patterns of pilot behavior and provide timely, context-sensitive support. Rather than replacing human pilots, these tools aim to enhance human capabilities and identify risks before they escalate.
Crucially, all of this requires a multidisciplinary approach. Pr. Dehais collaborates with computer scientists, aerospace engineers, psychologists, and even philosophers to tackle the technical, ethical, and operational challenges of integrating brain-based tools into safety-critical domains.
尤物视频implications: understanding and underwriting cognitive risk
Human error is at least in the majority of the cases a contributing factor in accidents (around 70%). Most of them also involve some form of cognitive lapse, such as miscommunication, misperception, distraction, or decision fatigue. Understanding how and why these breakdowns happen can help insurers better assess risk and design more effective coverage and mitigation strategies.
Neuroergonomics also opens the door to more granular, data-driven insights. If underwriters can incorporate physiological and behavioural indicators into their risk models, they could offer tailored incentives for airlines that invest in neuroadaptive systems, ultimately enhancing the experience for all stakeholders, including insurers, aviation partners, and passengers alike. This would be the ultimate future... A short term one is how are better taken into consideration profile learning from the various pilots into the mandatory curses that have to fulfil for a licence point of view and then how are enhanced pilot training programs based on cognitive science.
Moreover, the findings may be relevant well beyond the aviation sector. From long-haul trucking to air traffic control, any industry that depends on human vigilance and decision-making can benefit from the tools and frameworks emerging from Dehais’ lab.
Looking ahead: smarter systems, safer skies
As aviation systems become increasingly complex, the integration of neuroscience into cockpit design and pilot training will play a pivotal role in enhancing safety. Professor Dehais’ research serves as a vital reminder that while technology is essential, the human element remains central to aviation safety.
Professor Dehais’ work serves as a compelling reminder that brains, rather than automated controls, are at the center of aviation safety. By integrating neuroscience into the cockpit, he is helping pilots and those who insure them stay ahead of risks in an increasingly high-stakes environment.
As the main insurer of almost 90% of airlines and a long-standing partner to the sector, our commitment is based on in-depth expertise and rigorous risk analysis to design solutions that are both tailored and sustainable. By embracing the principles of neuroergonomics, we can not only enhance our underwriting practices but also contribute to a safer, smarter aviation landscape.
For more on Professor Frédéric Dehais’ work and the AXA Research Fund’s commitment to advancing risk science, visit
