Perceptual Narrowing during Simulated Pressure-Chamber Exposure

Abstract

In this study, 15 male subjects performed a central visual acuity task (Landolt ring detections) and a peripheral light detection task during what they thought to be a 60-ft. dive in a pressure chamber. There was no actual pressure change. A 15-man control group performed the same tasks at an outside location. Experimental measures included a posttest anxiety checklist and continuous heart rate recording. The chamber group showed significantly higher anxiety scores and also a significantly higher heart rate throughout the experiment. There was no difference between the groups with regard to correct Landolt detections, although the chamber group responded somewhat slower. Peripheral detection, however, was severely and significantly degraded in the chamber group. It was concluded that perceptual narrowing had been demonstrated as a result of psychological stress associated with exposure to the “dangerous” pressure-chamber.

Underwater Work Measurement Techniques

“…The results indicated that both oxygen consumption and heart rate increase linearly with thrust. Moreover, the observed ratio of oxygen consumption to heart rate (about 40 beats/nin for each 1.0 liter/min 0«) was the same as that previously reported for thrcadmill work on the surface and arm exercise underwater (Pcferences 17,22,24).…”

“…However, there was a tendency to hurry judgemental portions such as pressurization, .and to perform less well on problem solving in the ocean environment. (References 14,17,21,22 f. These findings reinforce the need for the establishment of underwater observor reliability and remote observation backup for underwater data gathering.…”

The Role of Anxiety in Perceiving and Realizing Affordances

“…It may be that on top of the changes in perceived and actual maximal reaching height, anxiety induced changes in participants' detection of relevant information for climbing, that is, in attention. Shifts in attention have been identified as one of the key mechanisms underlying changes (mostly decrements) in performance due to anxiety (Baddeley, 1972;Beilock & Carr, 2001;Janelle, Singer, & Williams, 1999;Landers, Wang, & Courtet, 1985;Liao & Masters, 2002;Mullen et al, 2005;Weltman & Egstrom, 1966;Weltman, Smith, & Egstrom, 1971). As attentional mechanisms might underlie the anxiety-induced changes in perception and realization of action possibilities that were found in Experiments 1 and 2, a third experiment was conducted to examine the relation between anxiety and attention in the climbing task.…”

Keeping your distance: attentional withdrawal in individuals who show physiological signs of social discomfort

“…A narrowed focus of attention may also reflect the effect of cognitive load (Mackworth, 1965;Wood, 2006). For example Pomplun et al (2001) demonstrated that visual span, as indexed by a visual search task, was substantially reduced with increasing task difficulty (see: Callaway and Dembo, 1958;Weltman et al, 1971). Therefore, for individuals who feel anxious in a situation of close social proximity, increased arousal and/or high cognitive load may lead to a withdrawal of their attentional space.…”