title: The neurocognitive effects of simulated use-of-force scenarios.
abstract: While the physiologic effects of modern conducted electrical weapons (CEW) have been the subject of numerous studies, their effects on neurocognitive functioning, both short-term and long-term, are less well understood. It is also unclear how these effects compare to other use-of-force options or other arrest-related stressors. We compared the neurocognitive effects of an exposure to a TASER(®) (TASER International, Inc, Scottsdale, AZ) X26™ CEW to four other use-of-force scenarios during a training exercise using a well-established neurocognitive metric administered repeatedly over 1 h. Overall, we found that there was a decline in neurocognitive performance immediately post-scenario in all groups, but this effect was transient, of questionable clinical significance, and returned to baseline by 1 h post-scenario.
authors.affiliation: Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Lompoc, CA, USA, donalddawes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nystrom
authors.forename: Johanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Lila W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Anne Marie K
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tilton
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brave
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Berris
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Miner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D057667:Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004285:Dogs; D004597:Electroshock / Q000523:psychology; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time; D012420:Running / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D054041:Weapons; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D007509:Irritants