Distinct cognitive demands drive specific brain network reorganization: EEG microstate evidence from air traffic control.

Air traffic control represents a complex cognitive environment requiring the dynamic reconfiguration of functional brain networks to meet fluctuating environmental demands. However, current neuroergonomic research often conceptualizes mental workload as a single intensity metric, obscuring the specific neurophysiological mechanisms underlying distinct cognitive processes. This study investigated whether EEG microstate dynamics exhibit specific modulation patterns under working memory load (ΔWM) versus conflict resolution load (ΔCR). Twenty-one experienced ATC cadets participated in a high-fidelity simulation with three controlled conditions designed to dissociate these specific cognitive demands. EEG data were continuously recorded to analyze microstate temporal parameters and transition probabilities. Results revealed that increased demand for information maintenance (ΔWM) significantly enhanced Microstate D metrics (coverage, duration, occurrence) while suppressing Microstate C, characterized by increased transition probabilities converging towards Microstate D. Conversely, increased demand for conflict resolution (ΔCR) drove a significant enhancement of Microstate A and a concurrent attenuation of Microstate D, with transition trajectories biased toward Microstate A. Notably, these distinct neural modulation patterns remained robust across different task phases and operational scenarios. These findings demonstrate that different workload sources are driven by distinct microstate dynamics. By identifying physiological biomarkers that distinguish memory overload from decision difficulty, this study elucidates the neural mechanisms of cognitive resource allocation in complex environments, providing a physiological basis for real-time state monitoring and adaptive regulation.