Effects of Pyridostigmine Bromide on A-10 Pilots During Execution of a Simulated Mission: Physiology
Abstract
This report documents the physiological results of an experiment that was conducted to determine the effects of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) (30 milligrams, three times per day) on pilot performance and physiology. Both sets of data were collected in an A-10 flight simulator with an Advanced Visual Technology System (AVTS). The subjects were 24 A-10 pilots who were trained on the following simulated tasks over three 55-minute sessions: takeoff, patterns, emergency procedure, and landing; air-to-air refueling; conventional low-angle strafing; and low-level ingress/RED FLAG. Next, during two test sessions, 48 hours apart, the pilots were tested using a double-blind procedure on the same tasks in a PB condition and in a placebo condition. In the two test sessions, 12 of the pilots wore the chemical defense ensemble (CDE) and the other 12 pilots wore standard flight gear (SFG). PB dosages led to reports of 27 symptoms among 12 (50%) of the pilots. Under the placebo condition, in contrast, only 5 (20%) of the pilots reported a total of 6 symptoms. Analyses of PB effects on physiological functions and on various biobehavioral measures showed suppression of heart rate and a tendency toward increased skin temperature. Besides increasing skin temperature, the CDE tended to increase heart rate, especially during the start of the session. Performance data will be discussed in a later report. Keywords: Chemical defense; Chemical defense gear; Chemical warfare; Combat simulation; Flight simulators; Pyridostigmine bromide; Preventive medicine; Antidotes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA221222
Entities
People
- Arthur E. Harriman
- David C. Hubbard
- Rebecca B. Brooks
- Robert R. Woodruff
Organizations
- University of Dayton