NTL Record

Title The effects of body thermal state on manual performance.
Record ID 39025
Personal Name
Creator
Vaughan, J.A.; Higgins, E.A.; Funkhouser, G.E.; Galerston, Elinore M.
Corporate Creator United States. Office of Aviation Medicine
Publisher Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Publication Date 19680500
Language English
Abstract Thirty-six young men were exposed for 2 hours to environmental temperatures of 10, 26.7, or 46C. Measurements of rectal and skin temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were made, and average skin and average body temperatures were calculated. Manual performance consisted of standardized peg tests for hand and finger dexterity, and a written motor coordination test. Converted scores showed no significant differences in peg placing at any of the thermal states studied. Men exposed to the neutral environment scored highest in the finger dexterity tests, but values for motor coordination were greater in the heat than in the other two environments. These data suggest that coarse hand movements are independent of body thermal state, but that more discrete tasks involving hand and finger dexterity, and motor coordination, can be most efficiently performed in warmer environments which promote at least thermally neutral values of skin and deep body temperature.
Rosap ID dot:20851
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/20851
TRT Terms Flight crews; Maintenance; Performance; Temperature; Physiological aspects; Hand; Motor skills; Low temperature; High temperature; Experiments; Human subject testing
General Subjects Flight crews--Effect of temperature on; Temperature--Physiological effect; Maintenance; Performance; Body temperature; Hand; Fingers; Blood-vessels--Dilatation Motor ability; Perspiration; High temperatures; Low temperatures
Classification NTL - AVIATION - AVIATION;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Energy and Environment;
NTL - AVIATION - Aviation Human Factors
Geographical
Coverage
United States
Report Number AM 68-13; DOT/FAA/AM-68/13
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/39000/39000/39025/AM68-13.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository