The present study examined the Maximal Adaptability Model of Stress (Hancock & Warm, 1989) by investigating how the task characteristics of information rate (event rate) and information structure (display uncertainty) affect performance on a cognitively demanding signal detection task. Performance as well as perceived workload and stress were measured. Results supported a performance-workload association rather than performance insensitivity, but the pattern of decline in adaptation to task-induced stress generally conformed to the maximal adaptability model: At lower levels of demand the change in accuracy and workload was smaller, but at higher demand these changes increased in magnitude.
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