Interactions in human performance: An individual and combined stressors approach

Abstract

In many clinical, ergonomic and sporting contexts, humans are exposed to environments that are suboptimal for physical and cognitive performance. This has prompted a substantial body research on the human response to heat, cold, hypoxia, noise, vibration, hypoand hyperbaria, as well as hyperand microgravity. However, working at environmental extremes can expose individuals to more than just a single stressor. Indeed, it is the combination of stressful factors which characterizes the ‘extreme’ nature of environments like high-altitude (e.g. hypobaric hypoxia, cold, solar radiation), deep-sea (e.g., hyperbaria, cold, inspiratory gas toxicity) and space (e.g. heat, cold, hypobaric normoxia, hyperand microgravity).