Human Performance Under High G Environments: A Comparison of Upright and Reclined Seat Configurations

Abstract : The present study investigated human cognitive performance under high G in an upright seat and two reclined seats (PALE and Tilt-back). Subjects were required to perform a perceptual/motor and a classification task both separately and concurrently. Data were gathered prior to G-onset, during varying levels of acceleration, and post-G. Results indicated that neither of the reclined seats were superior to the upright seat at high G levels. Perceptual/motor data revealed that the PALE seat has an advantage in post-G recovery, while the upright seat maintains better performance during acceleration for this measure. These results indicate that the physiological benefits of reclination do not easily translate into cognitive performance increments. Before a definitive study can evaluate the contributions reclination may make to pilot performance under severe levels of G-force, engineering issues surrounding the mechanization of reclined seating needs to be resolved