Interest of neurofeedback for optimizing vigilance in sleep-deprived operators – INOVOPS

In high-intensity conflicts or professions with high cognitive demands, sleep debt is a critical factor in performance degradation. It leads to reduced attentional and executive capacities, increased risk of accidents, and long-term detrimental effects on health. Existing pharmacological solutions, while partially effective, have side effects and ethical limitations. This project aims to explore an innovative non-pharmacological approach: neurofeedback training, which could optimize and maintain vigilance levels and preserve cognitive performance under sleep debt conditions.
Project Objectives:
- Develop and test a neurofeedback training protocol in the context of cognitive fatigue.
- Evaluate its effectiveness on vigilance, attentional capacities, and operational performance.
- Explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of neurofeedback training.
Methodology:
The project will consist of two main phases:
Laboratory Experimentation: Study the impact of neurofeedback training on cognitive recovery after total sleep deprivation.
Ecological Experimentation: Test the effectiveness of the training over periods of chronic sleep restriction in real-world conditions.
Measurements will include neurophysiological indicators (EEG), functional imaging, cognitive assessments, and behavioral performance. The integration of virtual reality to enhance learning and transferability of benefits will also be explored.
Outcomes and Impacts:
- Military: Optimization of vigilance and attentional capacities in armed forces under sleep deprivation, reducing operational risks.
- Civilian: Potential applications for professionals facing similar constraints (healthcare personnel, firefighters, transportation, industry).
- Scientific: Advancing knowledge on neurofeedback as a cognitive optimization tool and for preventing the effects of sleep debt.