AeroPhysio Samples of behavior (work in progress)

Noise

Unwanted sound

What are the three haracteristics of noise affecting hearing?

Frequency, intensity, duration

What are the units for measuring noise characteristics

Hertz, decibels

What is the pain and physical damage thresholds for hearing loss?

130 and 150 decibels

What is the receptive frequency range of the human ear?

20 to 20,000 Hz

What is the max allowable time at 85 dB?

8 hours

What is the reduction in unprotected time for every 3 decibels

½ time

How much additional protection does another layer of ear protection provide

10-15 decibels

Devices to minimize hazardous noise

Formable earplugs, molded earplugs, ear defenders, active protection

What are two techniques to minimize noise exposure

Hearing protection, limiting exposure off duty

What are the dangerous frequency range of vibration for humans

1 to 100 Hz, skull 20-30, eyes 60-90

Symptoms of vibration exposure

Loss of appetite, nausea, headache, fatigue

Effect of vibration on reaction time

Worse at subconscious level, same at conscious level

What are the types of hearing loss associated with high intensity noise?

conductive and sensorineural

What is the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss?

Conductive hearing loss occurs when the ear loses some ability to transmit mechanical energy. Sensorineural hearing loss is when the cochlea hair cells (scillia) are damaged/destroyed

What are the non-auditory effects of noise?

increased stress, fatigue, and anomalies of attention, low alertness, sleep loss, irritability, distraction and uncooperativeness

How much protection do earplugs offer?

20 decibels (reading says 25)

What are the devices that help minimize hazardous noise

formable Earplugs, molded earplugs, ear defenders, active protection, helmet, headset

What visual impairment occurs from vibrations

blurred vision, vertical tracking, tracking error of up to 40%

Describe symptoms of vibration exposure

loss of appetite, complacency, perspiration, salivation, nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, discomfort, acute pain

How does vibration affect reaction time?

tasks at the subconscious level are worse, but at the conscious level reaction time is the same

Identify the three types of acceleration

Linear (straight acceleration) Radial (Turning without changing speed), and angular (Turning and changing speed)

Identify the three types of G force

Transverse (Gx, linear), negative(-Gz), and positive G's(+Gz).

Identify the physical symptoms associated with each type of G force

negative Gz feel like weigtlesness, redout, congestion, headache, visual blurring. Positive G forces

Recall the five factors determining the effects of G force on a crewmember's body

Magnitude of the G force,
Duration of the exposure,
Rate of application,
direction of force,
previous G exposure

. Identify the four principle physiological effects and associated symptoms of exposure to G forces

Mobility, cardiovascular, vestibular, and reduction in visual acuity

Recognize what causes blackout and how it is different than G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC)

Blackout is a loss of blood to the eye cells because there isn't enough pressure to overcome the interocular pressure

Describe the symptoms of each of the phases of incapacitation

absolute and relative G-LOC

Explain the difference between the two phases of G-LOC

Absolute GLOC occurs from 9-23 seconds, is complete unconsciousness. At first you may relax or maintain your grip on the stick. You may flair around in the cockpit, as you recover.
Relative GLOC occurs after absolute for the same period of time, you may be confused, disoriented, stupor, apathy or memory loss. You can't make decisions or fly in this state.

Explain the impact of relative incapacitation on the total time required to regain control of the aircraft

It's another 15ish seconds that you aren't flying the plane, which is enough to kill you.

Identify methods to increase G tolerance

G strain, G suit

Recall G-suit function and level of protection provided

1 to 1.5 Gz

Identify the elements involved in correctly performing the AGSM

Cyclic Breathing and Tensing the legs

Know the common errors in performing the AGSM

Timing (not doing it soon enough), breathing to often or taking too much time to exchange air, or relaxing the abs when breathing

Identify common mission characteristics that are likely to cause AGSM errors

Loss of SA due to task saturation

Recall physiological factors related to increased performance in a positive G force environment

Physical conditioning (aerobic and anaerobic)

Recognize the role self-imposed stressors play in decreasing G force tolerance

dehydration, fatigue, sleep, drugs, alcohol, hypoglycemia

What are the phases of respiration

Ventilation
Diffusion
Transportation
Diffusion
Utilization

What is the definition of hypoxia

A lack of oxygen in the body - (the state of oxygen deficiency in the body for any reason)

What are the four types of hypoxia

Hypoxic
Hypemic
Histotoxic
Stagnant

What is the cause of the 4 types of hypoxia

Hypoxic - Partial Pressure of O2 is too low
Hypemic - Red blood cells cant transport O2
Stagnant - Lack of blood flow
Histotoxia - Tissues can't accept the oxygen

Signs of Hypoxic hypoxia

cyansis, degraded reaction time, euphoria, belligerence, impared judgment, increased respiration, mental confusion, muscle incoordiation, unconciousness, dysphoria

symptoms of hypixia

Air Hunger
apprehension
dizziness
fatigue
headache
hot/cold flashes
lightheadedness,
nausea,
numbness
tingling in extremetes
tunnel vision

What are 5 factors that impact time of useful conciousness

Acclimation
Altitude
Rate of ascent
Duration of Altitude
Exertion at altitude
Environmental Temp
individual fitness
self-imposed stresses (alchohol, fatigue)
medication and drugs

What factors could increase the risk of hypoxic hypemia

CO2, smoking, blood donation, some drugs or chemicals

What factors increase the risk of stagnant hypoxia

Gz, hyperventalization, cold temperatures, or shock

What factors increase the risk of histotoxi hypemia

Cyanide, alchohol and some meds

What are the four places gasses can be trapped

Inner Ear
GI tract
Teeth
Sinuses

What are the 4 types of DCS

The bends
The chokes
The creeps
CNS

What causes the bends?

Nitrogen coming out of the tissues

What are the two types of aircraft pressurization systems

isobaric and isobaric-differential systems

What are the differences between the aircraft pressurization systems

Isobaric keeps the same cabin altitude the whole time
Isobaric-differential doesnt switch on until a specific altitude and then keeps a pressure differential between the outside and the cabin

What are the advantages of cabin pressorization

Reduced DCS and hypoxia probability,
less trapped gass expansion,
it's more comfortable with temperature/ect
Less oxygen equiptment
less fatigue/discomfort

What are the disadvantages of cabin pressurization

The risk of a decompression
Inc. Weight
More systems/engineering needed
decreased performance
Maintinance costs
Cabin must be controlled for fumes

What are the types of decompression and the speed that they occur

Explosive decompression (<.5 sec)
Rapid Decompression (0.5-15 sec)
Slow decompression (>15 sec) *May be so slow that it is unnoticable

What factors affect the speed of decompression

Cabin Volume
Size of the hole
pressure differential (rate and severity of decompression)
pressure ratio (the time for decompression)

What are indications of a rapid decompression

Structural damage
Explosive noise
Sudden decrease in air temperature
Fogging in the cabin
Rush of air and unsecured items towards opening

What is the retina?

Innermost layer of th eye, contains the rods and cones

What is the optic disc

The optic disk is the anatomical blind spot, where no rods or cones are contained

What are the two blind spots called?

anatomical and physiologic

What are the three types of vision? (day, night and dawn/dusk)

Photopic, Mesopic, Scotopic

How big is the focal and peripheral FOV?

3 degrees and 150 degrees

What is peripheral vision's main job?

Orientation to one's environment

What is central visions main function?

Recognize and identify objects - answer the "what is it" question

How far does your sterioscopic vision go?

600 ft

What is empty field myopia?

When everything looks the same you focus your eyes a few meters ahead of you

What are the four attention management threats

Physical, mental, state of mind, sensory misperception

What does LASER stand for in aviation?

Location
Appearance
Scanning
Effects
Regularity

What is the black hole illusion

When you come in to land at night and land short

What is autokenesis

The illusion that a stationary light is moving

What is the best way to prevent the illusion of a false horizon

a good cross check

How far off of the fovea do you need to look for the dimond scanning pattern?

10-15 degrees

What are the four phsiological limitations for finding objects while flying?

Visual contrast, shapes of targets, movement of targets, and environmental influences on vision

If you are targeted with a laser what should you do?

Look inside at the instroments, report it, and see a flight surgeon after landing

What is the primary factor in most human performance related mishaps?

Loss of SA

What are the two primary types of information processing?

concious and subconcious

What are the three level of SA

Perception
Comprehension
Prediction/Projection

How long does it take for a decision to go through the information processing loop?

5-5.5 seconds

Which type of information processing is responcible to most loss of life mistakes?

Subconcious processing

What are the 5 types of SA?

Geographical
Spatial
System
Environmental
Tactical

What are the three types of SA?

Type 1: Unrecognized
Type 2: Recognized
Type 3: Incapacitating

What is the most and least dangerous type of SA

Most - Unrecognized
Least - Recognized