Effects of 7.5% CO2-induced anxiety on individual performance: During a group computer combat game

Diaper, Alison; Nutt, David J.; Munafò, Marcus R.; White, Joanna L.; Farmer, Eric W.; Bailey, Jayne E.

Abstract

The inhalation of 7.5% CO2 has been shown to induce cognitive effects similar to anxiety. Sixteen healthy participants (14 male mean age 25.6 years) inhaled either a mixture of 7.5% CO2 gas or air while playing a group combat computer game. Participants reported greater feelings of anxiety and fired fewer bullets when inhaling CO2 compared with air, indicating CO2-induced anxiety may improve efficiency without task-related decrements. Being able to induce controlled and measured anxiety in group situations by CO2 inhalation may be a useful technique when evaluating response to stressful situations, such as combat, in simulators or real-life scenarios. © 2014 by the Crown of the United Kingdom.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Dec 13, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Nov 21, 2019
• Journal: Military Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0899-5605
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-7876
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 615-622
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/mil0000017
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/4670110
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1037/mil0000017