COMPLEX PERFORMANCE DURING EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES,

The effects of high temperature on psychomotor performance and physiological function were studied on male pilots age 30-51 holding a current medical certificate. A total of 41 runs were made at neutral 23.8C 75F, or hot 60.0C 140F, 71.1C 160F temperatures with low humidities less than 20 mm. Hg at 60.0 and 71.1C. Heart rate ECG, deep body temperature rectal probe and skin temperature were recorded at 2-minute intervals. Performance on a complex performance device two-dimensional tracking, mental arithmetic, and monitoring was scored for 5-minute intervals which varied in task difficulty. During exposure to 71.1C mean rectal temperature reached 38.05C 100.5F, mean peak heart rate was 132 beatsmin., and mean finger temperature peaked at 42C 107.6F. There were significant decrements in performance tracking and mental arithmetic at 71.1C at 60.0C there were no performance decrements during 30 minutes of exposure. Results are discussed as they apply to aircrew in high performance aircraft. Author