Peripheral Vision and Tracking Performance under Stress

Abstract

The complexity of modern aircraft systems places substantial information processing loads on the pilot. These loads are exacerbated during periods of cognitive and emotional stress such as during emergency landing situations. Physiological, and behavioral evidence for two human visual systems that may differ in susceptibility to psychological stress suggests the possibility of a natural stress resistant information channel that could be used to input information during stressful flight situations. It follows that the extreme peripheral visual fields could be a possible location for adjunct visual displays that serve to orient expeditiously the pilot's focal vision and attention to critical instrument displays during emergencies or other situations.