Cognitive performance of military men and women during prolonged load carriage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study evaluated cognitive workload in soldiers undertaking a long duration march wearing different loads.

Methods

Military participants (n=12 men and n=10 women) performed four 3-hour loaded marches (12.25 km at 4.9 km/hour) wearing either 21 kg, 26 kg, 33 kg or 43 kg. During the march, accuracy and response time were measured using the verbal working memory n-back test (0, 1, 2 and 3) and two bespoke Go/No Go tests (visual/auditory) to assess inhibition of a pre-potent response.

Results

The physical demands of the march increased with load and march duration but remained at moderate intensity. N-back test accuracy ranged from 74% to 98% in men and 62% to 98% in women. Reduced accuracy was observed as load and time increased. Accuracy during the visual

SUBMITTER: Armstrong NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9887367 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature