title: Effects of heat-exercise stress, NBC clothing, and pyridostigmine treatment on psychomotor and subjective measures of performance.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of pyridostigmine pretreatment, NBC protective gear, and heat-exercise exposure on psychomotor performance and subjective sensations in eight healthy male volunteers. Exercise in heat enhanced performance of vertical addition (+7.3%, p less than 0.001) but prolonged the reaction time (+4.4%, p less than 0.01). The effects of pyridostigmine, protective gear, and the interactions between the various stressors were not significant. Cognitive performance was not dependent on body core temperature. Multiple complaints of subjective discomfort arose from wearing the protective garment. The results suggest the existence of a significant subjective discomfort but an absence of major cognitive decrements in a multiple-stresses state of chemical warfare alertness.
authors.affiliation: Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arad
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Varssano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arnon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vazina
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise; D006359:Heat Exhaustion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide