Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function
Laboratory-based studies designed to mimic combat or military field training have consistently demonstrated deleterious effects on warfighter’s physical, cognitive, and emotional performance during simulated military operational stress (SMOS).PurposeThe present investigation sought to determine the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1102425/full |
| _version_ | 1811169460874117120 |
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| author | Nicole M. Sekel Meaghan E. Beckner William R. Conkright Alice D. LaGoy Alice D. LaGoy Felix Proessl Mita Lovalekar Brian J. Martin Leslie R. Jabloner Alaska L. Beck Shawn R. Eagle Michael Dretsch Peter G. Roma Peter G. Roma Fabio Ferrarelli Anne Germain Shawn D. Flanagan Christopher Connaboy Amy J. Haufler Bradley C. Nindl |
| author_facet | Nicole M. Sekel Meaghan E. Beckner William R. Conkright Alice D. LaGoy Alice D. LaGoy Felix Proessl Mita Lovalekar Brian J. Martin Leslie R. Jabloner Alaska L. Beck Shawn R. Eagle Michael Dretsch Peter G. Roma Peter G. Roma Fabio Ferrarelli Anne Germain Shawn D. Flanagan Christopher Connaboy Amy J. Haufler Bradley C. Nindl |
| author_sort | Nicole M. Sekel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Laboratory-based studies designed to mimic combat or military field training have consistently demonstrated deleterious effects on warfighter’s physical, cognitive, and emotional performance during simulated military operational stress (SMOS).PurposeThe present investigation sought to determine the impact of a 48-h simulated military operational stress (SMOS) on military tactical adaptive decision making, and the influence of select psychological, physical performance, cognitive, and physiological outcome measures on decision making performance.MethodsMale (n = 48, 26.2 ± 5.5 years, 177.7 ± 6.6 cm, 84.7 ± 14.1 kg.) subjects currently serving in the U.S. military were eligible to participate in this study. Eligible subjects completed a 96-h protocol that occurred over five consecutive days and four nights. Day 2 (D2) and day 3 (D3) consisted of 48-h of SMOS wherein sleep opportunity and caloric needs were reduced to 50%. Differences in SPEAR total block score from baseline to peak stress (D3 minus D1) were calculated to assess change in military tactical adaptive decision making and groups were stratified based on increase (high adaptors) or decrease (low adaptors) of the SPEAR change score.ResultsOverall, military tactical decision-making declined 1.7% from D1 to D3 (p < 0.001). High adaptors reported significantly higher scores of aerobic capacity (p < 0.001), self-report resilience (p = 0.020), extroversion (p < 0.001), and conscientiousness (p < 0.001). at baseline compared to low adaptors, while low adaptors reported greater scores in Neuroticism (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe present findings suggest that service members whose adaptive decision making abilities improved throughout SMOS (i.e., high adaptors) demonstrated better baseline psychological/self-reported resilience and aerobic capacity. Further, changes in adaptive decision-making were distinct from those of lower order cognitive functions throughout SMOS exposure. With the transition of future military conflicts placing higher priority on enhancing and sustaining cognitive readiness and resiliency, data presented here demonstrates the importance of measuring and categorizing baseline measures inherent to military personnel, in order to change and train one’s ability to suffer less of a decline during high stress conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:43:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4c635f668f742e2a10ff2b724a74a3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:43:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4c635f668f742e2a10ff2b724a74a3f2023-02-08T05:00:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-02-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11024251102425Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive functionNicole M. Sekel0Meaghan E. Beckner1William R. Conkright2Alice D. LaGoy3Alice D. LaGoy4Felix Proessl5Mita Lovalekar6Brian J. Martin7Leslie R. Jabloner8Alaska L. Beck9Shawn R. Eagle10Michael Dretsch11Peter G. Roma12Peter G. Roma13Fabio Ferrarelli14Anne Germain15Shawn D. Flanagan16Christopher Connaboy17Amy J. Haufler18Bradley C. Nindl19Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesMilitary Sleep Tactics and Resilience Research Team, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesU.S. Army Medical Research Directorate-West, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, WA, United StatesBehavioral Health and Performance Laboratory, Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division, Human Health and Performance Directorate, KBR/NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United StatesWarfighter Performance Department, Operational Readiness and Health Directorate, Leidos/Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United StatesMilitary Sleep Tactics and Resilience Research Team, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesMilitary Sleep Tactics and Resilience Research Team, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United StatesNeuromuscular Research Laboratory, Warrior Human Performance Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesLaboratory-based studies designed to mimic combat or military field training have consistently demonstrated deleterious effects on warfighter’s physical, cognitive, and emotional performance during simulated military operational stress (SMOS).PurposeThe present investigation sought to determine the impact of a 48-h simulated military operational stress (SMOS) on military tactical adaptive decision making, and the influence of select psychological, physical performance, cognitive, and physiological outcome measures on decision making performance.MethodsMale (n = 48, 26.2 ± 5.5 years, 177.7 ± 6.6 cm, 84.7 ± 14.1 kg.) subjects currently serving in the U.S. military were eligible to participate in this study. Eligible subjects completed a 96-h protocol that occurred over five consecutive days and four nights. Day 2 (D2) and day 3 (D3) consisted of 48-h of SMOS wherein sleep opportunity and caloric needs were reduced to 50%. Differences in SPEAR total block score from baseline to peak stress (D3 minus D1) were calculated to assess change in military tactical adaptive decision making and groups were stratified based on increase (high adaptors) or decrease (low adaptors) of the SPEAR change score.ResultsOverall, military tactical decision-making declined 1.7% from D1 to D3 (p < 0.001). High adaptors reported significantly higher scores of aerobic capacity (p < 0.001), self-report resilience (p = 0.020), extroversion (p < 0.001), and conscientiousness (p < 0.001). at baseline compared to low adaptors, while low adaptors reported greater scores in Neuroticism (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe present findings suggest that service members whose adaptive decision making abilities improved throughout SMOS (i.e., high adaptors) demonstrated better baseline psychological/self-reported resilience and aerobic capacity. Further, changes in adaptive decision-making were distinct from those of lower order cognitive functions throughout SMOS exposure. With the transition of future military conflicts placing higher priority on enhancing and sustaining cognitive readiness and resiliency, data presented here demonstrates the importance of measuring and categorizing baseline measures inherent to military personnel, in order to change and train one’s ability to suffer less of a decline during high stress conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1102425/fullmilitary personneldecision makingresiliencepsychologicalexercise |
| spellingShingle | Nicole M. Sekel Meaghan E. Beckner William R. Conkright Alice D. LaGoy Alice D. LaGoy Felix Proessl Mita Lovalekar Brian J. Martin Leslie R. Jabloner Alaska L. Beck Shawn R. Eagle Michael Dretsch Peter G. Roma Peter G. Roma Fabio Ferrarelli Anne Germain Shawn D. Flanagan Christopher Connaboy Amy J. Haufler Bradley C. Nindl Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function Frontiers in Psychology military personnel decision making resilience psychological exercise |
| title | Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function |
| title_full | Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function |
| title_fullStr | Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function |
| title_short | Military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality, resilience, aerobic fitness, and neurocognitive function |
| title_sort | military tactical adaptive decision making during simulated military operational stress is influenced by personality resilience aerobic fitness and neurocognitive function |
| topic | military personnel decision making resilience psychological exercise |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1102425/full |
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