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Human Behavior in Military Contexts (2008) / Chapter Skim
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7 Behavioral Neurophysiology
Pages 64-69

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From page 64...
... Technologically, rapid advancements in computerized neurophysiological recording systems -- such as peripheral physiological (autonomic and somatic) recording devices, endocrine assay 64
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From page 65...
... These advances have initiated a paradigm shift, integrating behavioral and neurophysiological research approaches to the understanding of human behavior. The advantages of biopsychosocial approaches to classic issues in the behavioral, biological, and biomedical sciences are not only important in terms of advancement in theory and basic understanding of the human condition, but also hold great promise for applications to military, as well as civilian, work in such areas as leadership, assessment of human performance, training, and health.
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From page 66...
... Although the military's research focus understandably mirrors historical trends in psychology, the focus now needs to reflect the dominant view that any understanding of cognitive processes unaccompanied by a simultaneous understanding of motivational and affective processes lacks relevance to behavior in realworld settings, particularly ones that are threatening, stressful, or involve social interaction. Recent research has developed strong biopsychosocial models of motivation (e.g., Blascovich and Mendes, 2000; Dickerson and Kemeny, 2004)
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From page 67...
... The committee's judgment that the military's basic behavioral and social science agencies should focus on research that incorporates peripheral neurophysiological, neuroendocrine, and central electrophysiological measures in the relative near term is based on several considerations. None of them reflects negatively on the importance and long-term value of brain imaging techniques.
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From page 68...
... over time. People who have the individual resources to meet the performance demands of a potentially threatening situation are termed "challenged." They exhibit increases in heart rate and ventricular contractility coupled with decreases in total peripheral resistance and increases in cardiac output.
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From page 69...
... Finally, the monitoring of individuals' challenge or threat physiological states while in the field can provide important on-line information for commanders, including not only motivational state and performance, but also indicators of acute cardiovascular pathology. The above is but one example of the potential utility of behavioral neurophysiological methods.
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Key Terms

  • human behavior
  • basic behavioral
  • validated neurophysiological
  • neurophysiological research
  • peripheral physiological

  • behavioral neurophysiological
  • imaging techniques
  • individual resources
  • neurophysiological data
  • using brain

  • human performance
  • military research
  • total peripheral
  • personnel selection
  • ventricular contractility

  • heart rate
  • relative near
  • peripheral resistance
  • theoretical constructs
  • individual differences

  • cardiac output
  • performance demands
  • threat motivation
  • task demands
  • potentially threatening

  • central electrophysiological
  • neurophysiological recording
  • human organization
  • create human
  • human condition


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