The anatomy of a disrupted routine Published Aug. 28, 2026 By Senior Airman Evelyn J. D'Errico 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Türkiye -- Every day, Airmen move through familiar environments without giving much thought to what they see. But sometimes, something catches their attention. It could be a person, a vehicle or something that simply doesn't look right. That moment, the ability to recognize when something doesn't fit… is when vigilance begins. The anatomy of a disrupted routine: the neuroscience behind vigilance U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Ann Glotfelter, 39th Medical Group clinical psychologist, holds up a brain-shaped stress ball in her office at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Aug. 24, 2026. Glotfelter, who has served as an Air Force psychologist for 15 years, uses these visual tools to help Airmen understand how high stress levels can severely hinder tactical decision-making and environmental awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Evelyn. D’Errico) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The science behind that moment is more complex than simply paying attention. It is the human brain constantly building expectations about the environments around us, filtering information and drawing attention to changes that break familiar patterns. For service members, understanding that psychology may reveal why every Airman plays a role in recognizing potential concerns before they become something more. “If you think about how our brains work, when something changes in our environment, we have an almost automatic reaction to that shift,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Ann Glotfelter, 39th Medical Group clinical psychologist. “A lot of different things happen in the brain, but one of the first responses is a shift in our attention.” Deep familiarity turns routine actions into habits, freeing up mental energy to spot hidden threats or unusual details. When a change happens, sensory neurons fire strongly in a process called the mismatch negativity response. This alerts a person's attention, triggers a quick stress or orienting reaction and updates their mental model. “The parietal lobe also plays a role by processing sensory information and helping us orient our sensory systems toward the change,” Glotfelter said. “Then, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functioning and working memory, helps determine whether the change is something we need to pay attention to, remember or figure out.” Humans notice things that seem out of place because of ancient survival tools called negativity bias and predictive processing. Our brains constantly guess what will happen next to save energy. “Our brains are wired to keep us alive,” Glotfelter said. “That is one of the main reasons they are so sensitive to change. Noticing shifts in our environment can be essential for survival.” The anatomy of a disrupted routine: the neuroscience behind vigilance U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Ann Glotfelter, 39th Medical Group clinical psychologist, points at a graphic of the human body, highlighting the human brain at Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, Aug. 24, 2026. The human brain is wired to build unconscious mental models of familiar surroundings, allowing Airmen to recognize instantly when an environment has been disrupted. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Evelyn. D’Errico) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The brain and nervous system scan the environment and compare it to memories much faster than the conscious mind can think. When they spot a mismatch, the emotional centers trigger a physical warning before logic catches up. “We sometimes call that ‘knowing without knowing,’ or a gut instinct,” said Glotfelter. “That feeling you’re describing—when something just feels off—is biology coming into play, often before we’ve had a chance to consciously process what’s happening.” While the brain processes these subtle warnings internally, protecting the wider mission requires moving that instinct from an individual thought to an actual report. “We have to recognize that each of us may only have a small piece of the puzzle,” Glotfelter said. “You might notice something about a person’s behavior, a situation or the environment, while someone else may have additional information. Individually, we may only see one piece, but when those pieces of information come together, they can create a more complete picture.” Staying silent puts Airmen, the mission and lives at risk. Every Airman acts as a critical sensor for their environment; meaning that trusting a biological gut instinct, and speaking up when a routine is disrupted, is the ultimate first line of defense in keeping the installation safe.