Article
Simulated Sustained Flight Operations and Performance, Part 2: Effects of Dextro-Methamphetamine
Military Psychology
(1992)
Abstract
As aircrew performance declines during periods of sustained flight operations (SUSOPs), countermeasures become more important. This study examined the ability of the central nervous system stimulant d-methamphetamine to ameliorate the detrimental effects of a simulated SUSOP on subjective fatigue and cognitive performance. Subjects (N = 25) repeatedly completed three subjective questionnaires and several subtests of the Unified Tri-Service Cognitive Performance Assessment Battery (UTC-PAB) and the Walter Reed Performance Assessment Battery (WR-PAB) during a simulated SUSOP. The scenario consisted of a 9-hr planning session followed by 4 hr of rest and a 14-hr mission. After 6 hr of rest, the 9 hr-4 hr-14 hr work-rest-work pattern was repeated. In a double-blind procedure, 13 subjects were administered 10mg/70kg body weight of d-methamphetamine 4 hr 20 min into the second mission, whereas the other 12 subjects received a placebo. Consistent with our preceding article in this series (Neri, Shappell, & DeJohn, 1992), the aircrew appeared to shift from a conservative to a more risky response strategy as the simulated SUSOP progressed. Administration of d-methamphetamine reduced subjective fatigue, improved performance, and lessened the apparent risky behavior on two spatial memory tasks.
Keywords
- sustained flight operations,
- aircrew performance,
- sleep loss,
- fatigue,
- human error,
- continuous operations,
- simulation,
- methamphetamine
Disciplines
Publication Date
1992
Citation Information
Scott A. Shappell, David F. Neri and Charles A. DeJohn. "Simulated Sustained Flight Operations and Performance, Part 2: Effects of Dextro-Methamphetamine" Military Psychology Vol. 4 Iss. 4 (1992) p. 267 - 287 ISSN: 0899-5605 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott-shappell/44/