External workload and cognitive performance of a tactical military scenario-based field exercise.
| Autor: | Walker FS; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK f.walker@chi.ac.uk., Needham-Beck SC; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK., Vine CAJ; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK., Blacker SD; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK., Greenlees I; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK.; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK., Sharpe BT; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK., Siddall AG; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK.; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK., Maroni T; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK., Ashdown KM; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK., Hinde KL; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK., Elliott E; Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK., Rayson M; Human Social Science Research Capability (HSSRC), BAE Systems Plc, London, UK., Knight E; Cervus Defence and Security Ltd, Bristol, UK., Myers SD; Centre of Health and Applied Sport and Exercise Research, University of Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | BMJ military health [BMJ Mil Health] 2024 Jul 20. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 20. |
| DOI: | 10.1136/military-2024-002672 |
| Abstrakt: | Introduction: Military personnel must manage a multitude of competing physiological and cognitive stressors while maintaining high levels of performance. Quantifying the external workload and cognitive demands of tactical military field exercises closely simulating operational environments, will provide a better understanding of stressors placed on personnel to inform evidence-based interventions. Methods: Thirty-one soldiers completing a dismounted 48 hours tactical field exercise, participated in the study. External workload was quantified using a wrist-worn triaxial accelerometer, with cognitive function (Go-/No-Go, N-back, psychomotor vigilance task and subjective workload ratings (NASA-TLX) assessed pre-exercise, mid-exercise and postexercise. Physical activity was described using Euclidian Norm Minus One (m g ), with moderate vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary light physical activity (SLPA) as ≥ or <113 m g , respectively. Changes in general cognitive performance (total accuracy-speed trade-off (ASTO) % change) and function outcome variables (overall mean reaction time, ASTO and number of correct and missed responses) were calculated for each assessment from pre-exercise, to mid-exercise and postexercise. Results: For the exercise duration (50:12±02:06 hh:mm) participants spent more time completing SLPA compared with MVPA (1932±234 vs 1074±194 min; p <0.001), equating to 33% of the time spent completing MVPA. Overall cognitive performance decreased over the exercise (pre-to-post: -249). However, the largest decrement was observed pre-to-mid (-168). Perceived mental demand associated with the cognitive assessments significantly increased over the duration of the exercise (pre-: 33; mid-: 38 and post-: 51; χ 2 Conclusion: The study successfully quantified the physical activity, and subsequent impact on cognitive function, in soldiers completing a 48 hours tactical field exercise. Further research is needed to better understand how physiological stressors interact with cognitive function during military operations. Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared. (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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