A scoping review of neuroscientific approaches to understanding the neurological effects of air travel on passengers

Purpose This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesize existing neuroscientific research on how air travel affects passengers’ brain function, autonomic regulation and psychological states. It seeks to identify dominant methodological approaches, thematic emphases and temporal focus across flight phases, while highlighting conceptual and empirical gaps in understanding passenger-centered neurocognitive and emotional experiences throughout the air travel. Design/methodology/approach Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in Scopus to identify studies employing neuroscientific or neurophysiological methods to examine human responses to air travel. Twenty-two studies published between 1986 and 2025 met the inclusion criteria. The studies were analyzed in terms of research design, measurement techniques, outcome variables, flight phase focus and thematic orientation. Findings The literature is heavily concentrated on in-flight conditions, with limited attention to pre-flight anticipation or post-flight recovery. Methodologically, studies predominantly used portable electroencephalography and peripheral physiological measures, with no functional neuroimaging applications. Research emphasized cognitive load and performance, while stress responses were examined more frequently than anxiety and fear. Thematic analysis revealed a dominance of aerospace stress and adaptation research over typical commercial passenger experiences. Originality/value This review provides the first structured mapping of passenger-focused neuroscientific research in air travel, revealing substantial fragmentation and disciplinary bias toward aerospace medicine and pilot performance. It highlights critical gaps in understanding the neurobiology of flight anxiety, emotional regulation and longitudinal neurocognitive trajectories across the full travel experience, offering a foundation for future interdisciplinary research in passenger neuroscience and experience design.