Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40778354›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in neuroscience2025

Neuroadaptive changes in brain structural-functional coupling among pilots.

Xi Chen, Qingbin Meng, Qingsong Song, Peiran Xu, Shicong Zhang, Donglin Huang, Qi Chu, Jiamin Fan, Cheng Luo, Xiuyi Li

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Article in Frontiers in neuroscience, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xi ChenInstitute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, Sichuan, China.
Qingbin MengInstitute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, Sichuan, China.
Qingsong SongAviation Health Department, Southwest Regional Administration of Civil Aviation Administration of China, Chengdu, China.
Peiran XuInstitute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, Sichuan, China.
Shicong ZhangInstitute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, Sichuan, China.
Donglin HuangHospital of Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, Sichuan, China.
Qi ChuInstitute of Flight Technology, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, Sichuan, China.
Jiamin FanKey Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Cheng LuoKey Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Xiuyi LiCAAC Academy, Civil Aviation Flight University of China, Guanghan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying pilots' brains is crucial for enhancing aviation safety. However, prior research has predominantly focused on identifying structural and functional differences in the brain, while the relationship between structure and function remains insufficiently elucidated. Methods: This study collected T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from 47 pilots and 38 matched controls. Structural-functional coupling (SFC) strength was quantified using the Structural Decoupling Index (SDI) based on graph signal processing (GSP). Functional connectivity was further decomposed into structurally coupled and decoupled components, with subsequent group comparisons conducted at the regional brain level. Results: Compared to controls, pilots exhibited significantly higher SDI values in several brain regions, including the left and right middle frontal gyri, left precentral gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, left posterior superior temporal sulcus, right superior and inferior parietal lobules, left visual cortex, and right basal ganglia, indicating reduced SFC in these areas. In contrast, enhanced coupling was observed in the bilateral inferior frontal gyri, left paracentral lobule, and left insula. Notably, pilots showed increased decoupled functional connectivity (d-FC) between the left cuneus and right insula, as well as between the right insula and the left medial occipital cortex, accompanied by a reduction in coupled functional connectivity (c-FC). Importantly, the strength of decoupled functional connectivity between the right insula and the left medial occipital cortex was positively correlated with total flight hours. Conclusion: These findings suggest that prolonged flight experience may induce neuroplastic changes in regional SFC within the brains of pilots. This work provides novel insights into the neural adaptations associated with flight training and may contribute to the refinement of pilot selection and training protocols aimed at improving aviation safety.

Indexed as

flying experiencefunction connectivitygraph signal processingneuroplasticitystructural-functional coupling

Identifiers

PMID40778354
PMCPMC12329225

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.