Method for measuring the effects of stress on a man{3 s performance of primary and secondary tasks

Abstract

Abstract A method for measuring the effects of stress on a man''s performance of a primary task, while a secondary task is also provided to be performed simultaneously by the test subject. The secondary task thus produces a ''''distraction stress'''' on the test subject thereby degrading his performance on both of the tasks. A Zero Input Tracking Analyzer (ZITA) is used as the primary task, which provides a unique tracking task that has no initial input or error source, and requires the test subject to null only his own error from his previous response after he has initiated the tracking task with his initial response. A number of variations, such as velocities and accelerations, as well as various amounts of lag or lead may be introduced into the response system. An Auditory Discrimination Task (ADT) can be used as the secondary task, to produce the ''''distraction stress'''' for the test subject while he is carrying out the primary task. This task requires that the test subject respond to the stimuli of high or low tones, presented to him by head phones, by moving a response stick forward or backward for the high and low pitch, respectively. A common display/recorder is used to record the performance on both tasks.

Inventors

• 👤 Norman Kenneth Walker

Bibliographic Details