Repeated Measurement of Divers' Word Fluency.
Abstract
Word Fluency is an aspect of human behavior that can be a useful indicator of possible neurological effects of long, deep undersea diving, acute decompression sickness, and arterial gas embolism. Testing of divers' Work Fluency before, during, and after dives requires availability of multiple, equivalent but different tests of Word Fluency. This report describes the procedures used to develop and evaluate Word Fluency test forms suitable for repeated measurement experimental designs. Alternate, parallel forms of a Word Fluency test are recommended. Results are presented of illustrative measurements of Word Fluency before, during, and after 30-day saturation dives to simulated depths of 259m and 335m, and of follow-up measurements of a central nervous system decompression sickness case. These results indicate that a Word Fluency test could be a sensitive indicator of environmental stress. Normative data for divers using several letters are presented. Keywords: Neurophysiology; Psychology; Table; Performance tests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA179965
Entities
People
- David J. Styer
- Michael D. Curley
- Robert C. Carter
Organizations
- United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit