Serotonin as a Biomarker: Stress Resilience among Battlefield Airmen Trainees
Abstract
Epidemiologic data have shown that neuropeptide Y and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate have been found to predict successful performance under stress. Serotonin receptors and the serotonin transporter have been extensively studied for their efficacy in treating mental and physical disorders. In the present study, we sought to determine whether serotonin levels measured during Battlefield Airmen training were associated with stress resilience. We measured serotonin in blood samples from 21 Battlefield Airmen trainees prior to and during training for a total of six blood draws. Participants were divided into three groups: graduates, failures, and self-initiated eliminations. Failures included those who failed medically and those who failed performance. We analyzed the data using discriminant analysis. Of the 21 subjects in the analysis, all males with mean age 25 years (range, 18-35 years), 11 graduated (52.4%), 7 failed (33.3%), and 3 (14.3%) self-initiated elimination. Discriminant analysis showed that subjects with increased serotonin levels were more likely to self-initiate elimination. Although the sample was very limited, the findings demonstrate potential for using serotonin data to identify trainees who are likely to abandon training on their own. These data may improve the design of biomarker performance prediction models for stress, cognitive performance, and training ability relative to attrition rates, a U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine priority. It might also assist the design and development of real-time wearable sensor technology, an Air Force priority.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 2016
- Accession Number
- ADA631785
Entities
People
- Mark J. Kinchen
- Regina Shia
- Robert Gallavan
- Sky J. Wolf
Organizations
- United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine