Performance recovery following startle: A laboratory approach to the study of behavioral response to sudden aircraft emergencies

Thackray, Richard I.

doi:10.1037/e586272011-001

Cited by 8 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(34 reference statements)

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“…The differences between surprise and startle raise questions regarding ground-based training to prepare flight crew for unexpected events in flight. Would a sudden and loud noise in the simulator be sufficient to simulate difficulties associated with in-flight emergencies ( Thackray, 1988 )? Or should training scenarios primarily involve unexpectedness ( Bürki-Cohen, 2010 )?…”

Section: A Conceptual Model Of Startle and Surprisementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, several authors have pointed out that startle and surprise are different responses, with different causes and effects (e.g., Bürki-Cohen, 2010 ; Martin, Murray, Bates, & Lee, 2015 ; Rivera et al, 2014 ). A startle is a brief, fast, and highly physiological reaction to a sudden, intense, or threatening stimulus, such as the sound of a pistol shot ( Ekman, Friesen, & Simons, 1985 ; Martin et al, 2015 ; Thackray, 1988 ). Measurable aspects of startle include eye blinks, contraction of facial and neck muscles, arrest of ongoing behaviors, increased physiological arousal, and reports of fear or anger.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dealing With Unexpected Events on the Flight Deck: A Conceptual Model of Startle and Surprise

Landman

Groen²,

Paassen

et al. 2017

Hum Factors

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Objective:A conceptual model is proposed in order to explain pilot performance in surprising and startling situations.Background:Today’s debate around loss of control following in-flight events and the implementation of upset prevention and recovery training has highlighted the importance of pilots’ ability to deal with unexpected events. Unexpected events, such as technical malfunctions or automation surprises, potentially induce a “startle factor” that may significantly impair performance.Method:Literature on surprise, startle, resilience, and decision making is reviewed, and findings are combined into a conceptual model. A number of recent flight incident and accident cases are then used to illustrate elements of the model.Results:Pilot perception and actions are conceptualized as being guided by “frames,” or mental knowledge structures that were previously learned. Performance issues in unexpected situations can often be traced back to insufficient adaptation of one’s frame to the situation. It is argued that such sensemaking or reframing processes are especially vulnerable to issues caused by startle or acute stress.Conclusion:Interventions should focus on (a) increasing the supply and quality of pilot frames (e.g., though practicing a variety of situations), (b) increasing pilot reframing skills (e.g., through the use of unpredictability in training scenarios), and (c) improving pilot metacognitive skills, so that inappropriate automatic responses to startle and surprise can be avoided.Application:The model can be used to explain pilot behavior in accident cases, to design experiments and training simulations, to teach pilots metacognitive skills, and to identify intervention methods.

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Section: A Conceptual Model Of Startle and Surprisementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dealing With Unexpected Events on the Flight Deck: A Conceptual Model of Startle and Surprise

Landman

Groen²,

Paassen

et al. 2017

Hum Factors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This was considered one block and was repeated two times after brief rest periods of 2 min, for a grand total of 12 startle exposures and 900 reaction time trials over three blocks. This adapted in response to previously mentioned studies (Thackray, 1988), in which sometimes as few as two stimuli were used. Which trials were accompanied by stimuli was decided in a quasirandomized manner.…”

Section: Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, physiological and cognitive effects are known to accompany startle responses without the presence of any threat. This implies that simply the presence of the startle reflex and the subconscious signal processing of the threat assessment appear to be enough to negatively affect cognitive performance on some level in some visual tasks (Thackray, 1988). Thackray (1988) noted that participants in a visual tracking task displayed impaired psychomotor performance that lasted for 5 s after being exposed to a startling acoustic stimulus.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The relation of neuroticism to physiological and behavioral stress responses induced by auditory startle

et al. 2022

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Introduction The negative cognitive effects of the startle response are not yet fully understood. Ecological observations in the aviation field indicate risk for severe outcomes in complex or pressured situations, while sparse previous research suggests milder negative effects on simple cognitive tasks. Neuroticism is proposed as a factor related to the level of negative effects following startle. Methods This study examined the effects of startle on performance in a choice reaction time task and analyzed relations between performance, neuroticism, and physiological stress. Results Our results indicate that reaction time directly following startle was not affected, but reaction time in subsequent trials was significantly slower. Neuroticism and physiological stress were both unrelated to this performance effect. Discussion We argue that higher complexity/demand tasks are necessary to complement the research on base cognitive functioning in relation to startle. If neuroticism is related to startle effects, this is more likely to be found in these higher demand situations.

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“…They are able to move beyond the fear-inducing effects of terror and make effective security decisions that will allow them to recover quickly and help others. Research from the aviation sector has shown that, even under exceptional circumstances or when startled, situationally aware individuals can remain calm, quickly assess the situation, and respond appropriately (see Martin et al 2015;Thackray 1988). The FTA's (2007) security video "The Mark," which I discussed earlier, suggests the same holds true for terror-aware individuals.…”

Section: Civilian Terror Awareness As Preparedness/resiliencementioning

confidence: 99%

Before, Now, and After the Event of Terror: Situational Terror Awareness for Civilians in US Homeland Security

Arfsten

2019

Eur J Secur Res

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This article examines terror awareness as an individualized security practice that allows civilians to respond to situations of emergent terror as they occur, that is, in real time. It is a practice that targets the "time-space" (Walters in Comp Eur Polit 15(5):794-817, 2016) just before, during, and immediately after an event of terror. In recent years, the notion of "terror awareness" has gained salience in official US homeland security discourses. To protect themselves and their communities from harm and ensure an uninterrupted "way of life," citizens are routinely encouraged to be vigilant and aware to signs of potential terror as they attend to their daily affairs. They are asked to stay informed, remain alert, and be ready to respond to the incipiency of terror so that they may avert-or, at least mitigate-its potentially catastrophic and disruptive consequences. According to the authorities, this kind of habitualized threat awareness can help prevent acts of terror and strengthen community resilience. But what exactly do government and security officials mean when they speak of "terror awareness"? What does this practice of being "terror aware" entail? And how is it supposed to function as a protective mechanism against potential terror? What is its relationship to such abstract concepts as "security," "preparedness," and "resilience"? This article seeks to answer these questions. It is based on a careful reading of official and publicly available texts (press statements, policy documents, reports, training brochures, websites, etc.) about homeland security and anti-terrorism, where the notion of "awareness" finds mention and a specific understanding of it-namely as an individualized security technology-is being communicated to the wider public.

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Performance recovery following startle: A laboratory approach to the study of behavioral response to sudden aircraft emergencies

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Dealing With Unexpected Events on the Flight Deck: A Conceptual Model of Startle and Surprise

Dealing With Unexpected Events on the Flight Deck: A Conceptual Model of Startle and Surprise

The relation of neuroticism to physiological and behavioral stress responses induced by auditory startle

Before, Now, and After the Event of Terror: Situational Terror Awareness for Civilians in US Homeland Security

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