Psychophysiological Predictors of Soldier Performance in Tunnel Warfare: A Field Study on the Correlates of Optimal Performance in a Simulation of Subterranean Combat

ABSTRACT Tunnel operations produce unique psychophysiological activation that is correlated with cognitive impairment and lower performance. This study introduces a new concept: subterranean operational potential (SOP) and assesses its psychophysiological correlates for performance prediction in underground spaces. 138 soldiers of elite infantry battalions, with/without previous experience, who participated in a simulation of tunnel warfare. Physical, psychological, cognitive style, and performance measures were collected. SOP has three sub-components: performance, leadership, and orientation. Leadership and performance both were negatively correlated with perceived stress. Claustrophobia was negatively correlated with leadership. The cognitive style was positively correlated with performance. Saliva cortisol levels were significantly higher before the simulation. Inexperienced and experienced differed in the change in before-after saliva cortisol levels.

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Effects of Anosognosia on Perceived Stress and Cortisol Levels in Alzheimer’s Disease

International Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.1155/2012/209570 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Genevieve Arsenault-Lapierre ◽

Victor Whitehead ◽

Sonia Lupien ◽

Howard Chertkow

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Salivary Cortisol ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Stress Scale ◽

Cortisol Levels

Anosognosia, or unawareness of one’s own cognitive deficits, may cause issues when measuring perceived stress and cortisol levels in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The goal of this study was to examine the effects of anosognosia on perceived stress and salivary cortisol levels in normal elderly (NE) adults, MCI individuals, newly diagnosed AD patients, and long-lasting AD patients, suspected to show more anosognosia. An anosognosia index for perceived stress was computed by subtracting the score on the Perceived Stress Scale measured in the participants and their relative. Cortisol levels were measured four times a day over two nonconsecutive days. Greater anosognosia for dementia correlated with greater anosognosia for perceived stress in the group as a whole. However, no correlation between cortisol levels and either anosognosia for dementia or perceived stress was observed. Our results suggest that measuring perceived stress in AD patients may be influenced by anosognosia.

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