PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT

Abstract

Cognitive Enhancement refers to use of any intervention directed at improving any of the cognitive functions such as memory, attention, concentration, learning, planning and reasoning abilities. In the field of military psychology, research have shown that various stressors like thermal extremes, altitudes and risk involved are decrements to cognitive performance of the soldiers. In this paper we have used basic physical training as our first intervention; to study its impact on the cognitive performance of the soldiers. Basic training comprise of various weapon, physical training and theoretical lectures. Multidimensional analysis methods had been used to assess the cognitive enhancement which included both physiological and psychological tests. The trends from various tests have indicated convergence towards overall improvement in cognitive performance, reduction of stress and anxiety of the recruits as training progressed. Cognitive enhancement has been found to be more during the weapon and physical training phase as compared to the theoretical training phase. Computer games can help user in reducing distress and mood disturbance and at the same time can assist in improving the person's cognition, and therefore have been widely used as a means of cognitive enhancement. To study the efficacy of video games on the trainees, we used playing of video games as our second intervention. A group of trainees were asked to play video games along with their usual combat training and multipronged analysis was carried out. The results from various tests showed significantly higher cognitive enhancement of the trainees who were given video games as additional intervention (experimental group) as compared to the trainees with physical training as the only intervention (control group). The psychological test conducted using Vienna Test Systems indicated a definite improvement on some of the cognitive functions for the subjects of experimental group such as improved eye-hand coordination, attention and visual memory. This study is an aid to the training institute, to access the training pattern, evaluate the performance of the trainees and take suitable corrective action. Based on the results the institute can have better overall cognitive enhancement of the trainees either by restructure the training pattern or using convention interventions like playing of video games, especially during the 3' block of training. Two journal papers with respect to the dissertation work have been submitted for the Defence Science Journal and are presently under review