Psychological Effects of Chemical Defense Ensemble Imposed Heat Stress on Army Aviators
Abstract
Psychological testing was conducted with six Army aviators before and after flights in a UH-1H helicopter while wearing standard flight suits, US or UK aircrew chemical defense ensembles. Additional testing on non-flight days was conducted to provide a baseline for evaluation. Tests consisted of encode/decode problems, math problems, logical reasoning problems, target detection problems, and a four-choice reaction time test. Tests were scored for number of attempted, percent correct, reaction time of correct and incorrect responses. Self reports of mood were also taken and scored. The results of the study indicated that various levels of ensemble-imposed heat stress caused orderly changes in psychological function and extended the results of laboratory investigations to the aviation setting. In addition, reaction time data showed changes in the pilot's ability to deal with 'error' situations as a function of imposed heat stress and that self reports of mood were unreliable indicators of severe heat stress.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA121956
Entities
People
- Bruce E. Hamilton
- Kent A. Kimball
- Ronald R. Simmons
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab