Negative transfer of training: Simulator study into the effects of overruled pilot decision making

In this simulator study, we investigated the potential negative transfer of training that may result from situations where a correct decision made by the trainee is being overruled by the instructor to save training time. We hypothesized that discarding a correct decision in a training situation can introduce confusion when the trainee...

Close-Quarters Battle Scenarios in Virtual Reality for Testing and Training Performance in a Naturalistic Environment

Purpose: Standardized, objective measures of close-quarters battle (CQB) performance are currently lacking due to task and performance complexity. Furthermore, CQB training in training villages is costly, and lacks novelty as the same village is often used repetitively. The purpose of this study is therefore to investigate whether CQB...

Measuring the effects of concurrent and subsequent physical activity on cognitive performance by using the Load Effects Assessment Program (LEAP) obstacle environment

Purpose: Dismounted soldiers often need to perform physical tasks and cognitive tasks concurrently and/or sequentially. Previous research on the effects of concurrent and subsequent physical activity on cognitive performance has focused on physical activities with little complexity and variation, such as treadmill running and cycling. However,...

Using accelerometry and heart rate data for non-metabolic stress modelling and real-time monitoring of soldiers’ stress in dynamic military virtual reality scenario’s

Purpose: Real-time physiological stress monitoring would be a relevant addition to virtual reality (VR) training for high-risk professions, such as the military. VR is highly suitable for the implementation of such monitoring due to the controlled environment and the already used wearables. However, physiological stress measurements suffer from...

Retention of military combat lifesaving skills during six months following classroom-style and individualized-style initial training

The current study was performed to obtain insight into the retention of combat lifesaving (CLS) skills after initial training and to compare a more individualized-style training with a more classroom-style training. We measured performance at 0 month, 2 months, and 6 months after initial training in 40 CLSers (17 individualized, 23 classroom)....

Leans Illusion in Hexapod Simulator Facilitates Erroneous Responses to Artificial Horizon in Airline Pilots

Objective: We tested whether a procedure in a hexapod simulator can cause incorrect assumptions of the bank angle (i.e., the “leans”) in airline pilots as well as incorrect interpretations of the attitude indicator (AI). Background: The effect of the leans on interpretation errors has previously been demonstrated in nonpilots. In-flight,...

The effect of virtual reality simulation on police officers’ performance and recovery from a real-life surveillance task

Virtual reality (VR) simulation tools, in combination with miniaturized sensor and geotechnology, represent an opportunity to prepare high-risk professionals better for uncertain situations. In the current study, we tested whether VR preparation for a police surveillance task leads to increased performance and decreased stress, workload, and a...

Orientation Comes First: Becoming Aware of Spatial Disorientation Interferes with Cognitive Performance

Background: Previous research has shown that experiencing motion stimuli negatively impacts cognitive performance. Objective: In the current study, we investigate whether this impact relates to Type-II spatial disorientation (SD), to motion stimulus magnitude, or to an interaction of these factors. Method: Stimuli for participants (n = 23)...

Negative transfer of training; Simulator study into effects of going beyond alarms during stall recovery training

An often-used practice in pilot simulator training is to let pilots respond to a situation that has gone wrong. This may require the trainee to postpone their intervention, so that they can experience the cues and sensations signaling the critical situation, and have an opportunity to practice the appropriate response. However, some aviation...

Negative transfer of training of suboptimal degrees of variability in the training of procedures

Many professions require procedural skills to perform routine tasks, as well as adaptive skills to deal with unexpected situations. Whereas routine skills are acquired by repetitive practice of the same task, adaptive skills develop with variability of practice. We hypothesize that negative transfer may occur when routine skills are trained with...

Using accelerometry and heart rate data for real-time monitoring of soldiers’ stress in a dynamic military virtual reality scenario

Real-time physiological stress monitoring would be a relevant addition to virtual reality (VR) training for high-risk professions, such as the military. VR is highly suitable for the implementation of such monitoring due to the controlled environment and the already used wearables. However, physiological stress measurements suffer from...

Awareness of being spatially disoriented interferes with cognitive performance

Testing the applicability of a virtual reality simulation platform for stress training of first responders

The current study explores whether different stressors in a virtual reality (VR) military training scenario cause increases in physiological stress. This would validate the use of VR simulation for stress training, as well as the physiological monitoring of trainees for educational purposes. Military cadets (n = 63) performed a patrol scenario ...

A procedure for inducing the leans illusion in a hexapod motion simulator

Ground-based demonstration of spatial disorientation (SD) has been recommended for military as well as commercial pilot training. Although the leans illusion is the most common form of SD, no data exist yet of an effective ground-based leans procedure for a hexapod simulator. In this paper we describe the development of such a procedure and its...

The Effectiveness of a Mnemonic-Type Startle and Surprise Management Procedure for Pilots

Background: Mnemonic-type startle and surprise procedures were previously proposed to help pilots cope with startle and surprise in-flight, but effects on performance after procedure execution have not yet been investigated. Objective: Thus, we tested the effectiveness a new mnemonic-type procedure in a moving-base simulator with a non-linear...

Expectation Causes Misperception of the Attitude Indicator in Nonpilots: A Fixed-Base Simulator Experiment

Previous studies show that pilots sometimes make roll reversal errors (RREs) when responding to the aircraft bank angle shown on the attitude indicator (AI). This is suggestive of a perceptual ambiguity in the AI. In the current study, we investigated whether expectation contributes to such misperception. Twenty nonpilots performed tasks in a...

In-flight spatial disorientation induces roll reversal errors when using the attitude indicator

We hypothesized that an incorrect expectation due to spatial disorientation may induce roll reversal errors. To test this, an in-flight experiment was performed, in which forty non-pilots rolled wings level after receiving motion cues. A No-leans condition (subthreshold motion to a bank angle) was included, as well as a Leans-opposite condition ...