2007, Piran, Slovenia

Invited presentation
Cognitive and Psycophysiological Function
EFFECT OF VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS ON
TARGET ENGAGEMENT
Peter Tikuisis
Defence Research & Development Canada - Toronto
Contact: Peter.Tikuisis@drdc-rddc.gc.ca
INTRODUCTION
Facing a hostile situation is a considerable challenge to soldiers; doing so under
stressful environmental conditions exacerbates this challenge. Such stressors can be
externally imposed (e.g., climatic extremes) or internally manifested (e.g., fatigue). It
is essential for optimal mission preparedness and contingency planning that the
soldier’s tolerance to stressors is not only understood, but that their impact on
performance is sufficiently documented so that the most appropriate countermeasures
can be applied. This review focuses on the dismounted soldier’s ability to engage
targets under various environmental stressors. Performance was judged according to
the detection and identification of targets, and marksmanship using a small arms
simulation trainer.
METHODS
All trials were conducted in an air temperature-controlled environment using the
FATS IV Combat Firing Simulator (FATS Inc., Suwanee, GA). The SAT provides
high resolution interactive simulation whereby targets appearing on the screen (2.2 m
high x 3.0 m wide) are engaged from a distance of about 5.8 m (horizontal viewing
angle of 29º) using a laser-firing rifle (C-7A with optical scope) with authentic blast
audio and recoil. Targets varied from static to standing pop-ups to moving figures of
both foe and friendly types, and their appearance was randomized, both in frequency
and location.
The following studies (see citations for greater detail) were conducted using rifletrained
military personnel: HOT (Tikuisis et al. 2005), COLD (Tikuisis et al. 2007),
NOISE (Tikuisis et al. 2007), EXERCISE FATIGUE (Gillingham et al. 2004), and
SLEEP DEPRIVATION (Tikuisis et al. 2004). All subjects were medically screened
and a full explanation of the procedures, discomforts, and risks was given before
obtaining their consent for participation. Subject preparation included weapon
calibration and donning of trial-specific clothing. Additionally, for the thermally
stressful trials, subjects self-inserted a rectal probe (Yellow Springs Instruments,
Dayton, OH) for core temperature measurement, had heat flow transducers (Concept
Engineering, Old Saybrook, CT) applied for skin temperature measurements, and had
a heart rate monitor (Sports-Tester, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) strapped
across their chest for heart rate measurement. Given the number of studies reviewed
herein, specific trial conditions are briefly explained in the RESULTS below under
separate study headings.
All trials were counterbalanced and conducted as a repeated measures ANOVA
design with significance reported at p < 0.05. Newman-Keuls post-hoc analyses were
conducted where main differences were found. Textual results will be reported as
mean ± SD and figure results will be presented as mean ± SE.
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