We have located links that may give you full text access.
Cognitive, Psychophysiological, and Perceptual Responses to a Repeated Military-Specific Load Carriage Treadmill Simulation.
Human Factors 2023 November 29
BACKGROUND: Dismounted military operations require soldiers to complete cognitive tasks whilst undertaking demanding and repeated physical taskings.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of repeated fast load carriage bouts on cognitive performance, perceptual responses, and psychophysiological markers.
METHODS: Twelve civilian males (age, 28 ± 8 y; stature, 186 ± 6 cm; body mass 84.3 ± 11.1 kg; V̇O2max , 51.5 ± 6.4 mL·kg-1 ·min-1 ) completed three ∼65-min bouts of a Fast Load Carriage Protocol (FLCP), each interspersed with a 65-min recovery period, carrying a representative combat load of 25 kg. During each FLCP, cognitive function was assessed using a Shoot/Don't-Shoot Task (SDST) and a Military-Specific Auditory N-Back Task (MSANT), along with subjective ratings. Additional psychophysiological markers (heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate concentrations) were also measured.
RESULTS: A main effect of bout on MSANT combined score metric ( p < .001, Kendall's W = 69.084) and for time on the accuracy-speed trade-off parameter of the SDST ( p = .025, Ѡ2 = .024) was evident. These likely changes in cognitive performance were coupled with subjective data indicating that participants perceived that they increased their mental effort to maintain cognitive performance (bout: p < .001, Ѡ2 = .045; time: p < .001, Ѡ2 = .232). Changes in HRV and salivary markers were also evident, likely tracking increased stress.
CONCLUSION: Despite the increase in physiological and psychological stress, cognitive performance was largely maintained; purportedly a result of increased mental effort.
APPLICATION: Given the likely increase in dual-task interference in the field environment compared with the laboratory, military commanders should seek approaches to manage cognitive load where possible, to maintain soldier performance.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of repeated fast load carriage bouts on cognitive performance, perceptual responses, and psychophysiological markers.
METHODS: Twelve civilian males (age, 28 ± 8 y; stature, 186 ± 6 cm; body mass 84.3 ± 11.1 kg; V̇O2max , 51.5 ± 6.4 mL·kg-1 ·min-1 ) completed three ∼65-min bouts of a Fast Load Carriage Protocol (FLCP), each interspersed with a 65-min recovery period, carrying a representative combat load of 25 kg. During each FLCP, cognitive function was assessed using a Shoot/Don't-Shoot Task (SDST) and a Military-Specific Auditory N-Back Task (MSANT), along with subjective ratings. Additional psychophysiological markers (heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate concentrations) were also measured.
RESULTS: A main effect of bout on MSANT combined score metric ( p < .001, Kendall's W = 69.084) and for time on the accuracy-speed trade-off parameter of the SDST ( p = .025, Ѡ2 = .024) was evident. These likely changes in cognitive performance were coupled with subjective data indicating that participants perceived that they increased their mental effort to maintain cognitive performance (bout: p < .001, Ѡ2 = .045; time: p < .001, Ѡ2 = .232). Changes in HRV and salivary markers were also evident, likely tracking increased stress.
CONCLUSION: Despite the increase in physiological and psychological stress, cognitive performance was largely maintained; purportedly a result of increased mental effort.
APPLICATION: Given the likely increase in dual-task interference in the field environment compared with the laboratory, military commanders should seek approaches to manage cognitive load where possible, to maintain soldier performance.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app