Don’t fear, a new research project focussing on heat, cold or sleep deprivation is all in the name of science

Following on from a research project, which came to its conclusion in September this year, Dr Rhys Thatcher has been successful in a grant application to continue the project. The application for £68000 will enable Becky Wale, a research student in the Department, to transfer from MPhil to PhD and will ensure the project will continue for a further two years. The project is examining the efficacy of using physiological monitoring the predict failure in skill and/or cognitive functioning in stressful environments. The funder, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), is looking to apply the research findings to a range of environments encountered by emergency services. The applications could, however, go beyond this and have relevance to a range of sporting and work based environments were individuals are exposed to high levels of stress while being expected to perform at a high level. The specific stressors that are the focus of the project are heat/cold and sleep deprivation in conjunction with high levels of cognitive anxiety.

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