Higher use of techniques studied and performance in melee combat produce a higher psychophysiological stress response

Abstract

We aimed to analyse the effectiveness of an operative training in soldiers' psychophysiological and melee combat performance. Nineteen soldiers performed a 50-hr training for 10 weeks. After training, they were divided into two groups: higher performance group (HPG) and lower performance group (LPG), then they conducted a realistic melee simulation where psychophysiological response, task performance, and the utilization of techniques learned were measured. HPG presented a significantly (p < 0.05) higher heart rate, blood lactate, and jump height; a lower blood oxygen saturation, task performance mark, use of studied techniques than LPG after the simulation; and a higher low frequency/high frequency ratio of heart rate variability previous the simulation than LPG. Independent of performance and the use of studied techniques by the participants, the melee simulation produced an increase in fight or flight response, increasing rated of stress and perceived exertion, sympathetic modulation, and physiological response. A specific melee combat training program induced different modifications in psychophysiological and task performance depending on the level of studied technique used. HPG presented a significantly higher cardiovascular response than LPG and time perception, and memory presented no differences between groups; also HPG presented a significantly higher use of studied techniques.

Determining the psychophysiological responses of military aircrew when exposed to acute disorientation stimuli

“…The increase in cortical arousal is explained due to the intrinsical demands of disorientation training, which elicits large cognitive resources, producing no negative effects (CNS fatigue) in the acute disorientation exposure analysed in the present work, in line with other studies in military population 1918 19.…”

Autonomic and cortical response of soldiers in different combat scenarios

“…This situation could cause a state of anxiety18 in which the brain is over-stimulated, causing symptoms of fatigue of the central nervous system. Other stressful military contexts such as air combat jet manoeuvres,31 air mobile protection teams in an air accident manoeuvre,32 control of checkpoints,33 assault manoeuvres with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear personal protective equipment,34 and other melee actions different from those evaluated in the present research35 also elicited a large cortical demand, but asymmetrical combat remains the most demanding one.…”

Psychophysiological anxiety response of a rescue helicopter crew in a crane rescue manoeuvre

“…In this line, when the stressor (flight rescue manoeuvre) disappeared, the parasympathetic modulation increased, a result not observed in novel paratroopers where sympathetic modulation was maintained after tactical jumps, showing how the experience is a crucial factor to control the organic response in these extreme contexts 38. The sympathetic modulation analysed in the rescue manoeuvre was lower than other studies in military populations, specifically in asymmetrical and melee combats 41. This fact could be related to the uncontrollability and unpredictability of these contexts since they are conducted in urban areas in constant evolution, in the presence of civilians and with undefined battlefields in which soldiers have to be prepared for unexpected attacks among others threats 14 18 41.…”