Physiological Measures in a Team Training Simulation

The modern battlefield is replete with cognitive demands that can increase workload and cognitive stress. If military leaders can objectively monitor and predict these cognitive states, they can initiate countermeasures or alter task load to prevent performance decrements. Training simulation developers could also use such measures to assess which elements of a simulation affect workload and cognitive stress. This study evaluated a physiological approach, heart rate variability (HRV), as small teams conducted military-type, search-and-rescue exercises in a simulated urban environment. HRV data were collected as teams of 4 experienced low, medium, and high task-load conditions. Results will indicate which HRV frequency band (very low or high) is most sensitive to task-load and form the basis of a predictive model to indicate when a team is experiencing higher workload levels or increasing degrees of cognitive stress.