Stressors Present in a Disabled Submarine Scenario: Part 2. Effects of Environmental, Mental, and Physical Stressors on Cognition
Abstract
Survival in a disabled submarine (DISSUB) scenario is predicated upon submariners abilities to perform demanding tasks that access and use multiple cognitive domains. Survivors must be able to accurately and efficiently react to emergencies, perform stay-time calculations, and make critical decisions while also being exposed to a myriad of stressors that could impair cognitive functioning. This report is the second of two that identify the stressors that could be present in a DISSUB scenario, review the potential cognitive effects of these stressors, and consider how these cognitive effects could impair submariner operations during the onboard survival phase of a DISSUB scenario. In the present report, we first discuss the cognitive domains that are likely to affect operational success in a DISSUB scenario, including psychomotor function, attention/vigilance, memory, mathematical processing, cognitive flexibility, risk-taking/impulsivity, and mood. We then conduct a literature review to examine how each DISSUB stressor, identified in Chabal, Bohnenkamper, Reinhart, and Quatroche(2019; the first report of this series), is likely to affect submariner cognition. We highlight knowledge gaps and provide recommendations for future empirical research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 08, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1134636
Entities
People
- Alexia Bohnenkamper
- Emily Moslener
- Erica Casper
- Sarah Chabal
Organizations
- Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory