Griffith Aerospace Safety Centre

THE EFFECTS OF STARTLE AND ACUTE

STRESS ON HUMAN PERFORMANCE

Wayne Martin

Griffith University Aerospace Safety Centre, Brisbane, Australia

Griffith Aviation “Safety Through Education and Research”

Some recent examples of unexpected events

QF1 - Bangkok

Some recent examples of unexpected events

AF58 - Toronto

Some recent examples of unexpected events

Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 - Amsterdam

Some recent examples of unexpected events

SQ308 – Turbulence Incident May 2013

Some recent examples of unexpected events

QF72 – Inflight Upset near Learmonth WA

Some recent examples of unexpected events

QF 30 – Rapid Depressurisation

MV Estonia Ferry Sinking 1994

How do Passengers

Behave in Emergencies?

• 989 people on board, 852 of whom perished

• People who, '…were standing still apparently in shock.'

• 'Some seemed to be apathetic and bewildered.'

• ‘Some were [just] sitting in corners’

• Incapable of doing anything,' '…while others seemed to be paralysed,

staring and horrified.'

• 'Many were seen just holding on without moving; yet others appeared

paralysed.'

• A number appeared petrified and could not be forced to move.

• ‘Some […] people were beyond reach and did not react when other

passengers tried to guide them, not even when they used force or shouted

at them.'

• One witness reported that some crew appeared bewildered and did not

know what to do. Leach 2004

Muir et al Cabin Evac Experiments

How do Passengers

Behave in Emergencies?

The behaviour of people involved in life-threatening

situations generally falls into one of five different categories:

Fear – Flight

Panic

Behavioural Inaction (Freezing)

Affiliation

Altruism

Muir et al Cabin Evac Experiments

How do Passengers

Behave in Emergencies?

During the evacuation trials there was no panic displayed

but there were instances of behavioural inaction following

the call to evacuate.

This created delays and blockages when these people

were in exit rows as more responsive individuals tried to

evacuate.

Older female volunteers were found to be more prone to

this form of behaviour.

Responses to unfolding disaster can be divided broadly into three

groups:

In the first group, between 10‐15% of people will remain relatively

calm. They will be able to collect their thoughts quickly, their

awareness of the situation will be intact, and their judgment and

reasoning abilities will remain relatively unimpaired. They will be

able to assess the situation, make a plan, and act on it.

The second group, comprising approximately 75% of the

population, will be stunned and bewildered, showing impaired

reasoning and sluggish thinking. They will behave in a reflexive,

almost automatic manner.

The third group, comprising 10‐15% of the population, will tend to

show a high degree of counterproductive behaviour adding to

their danger, such as uncontrolled weeping, confusion,

screaming, and paralysing anxiety Griffith Aerospace Safety Centre

How do Passengers

Behave in Emergencies?

Brain Mechanisms Associated with Stress

Griffith Aerospace Safety Centre

Emotional Response in the Human Brain

EMOTIONAL

STIMULUS

EMOTIONAL

RESPONSE

SENSORY

THALAMUS AMYGDALA

SENSORY CORTEX

INITIAL APPRAISAL ROUTE

PROCESSING ROUTE

(14+ms)

(500+ms)

Emotional Response in the Human Brain

Thalamus

Emotional

Stimulus

Amygdala

LA CE

Freezing

Fight or

Flight

Response

Hormones

Startle

Reflex

CG

LH

PVN

RPC

(Stress

Response)

Colgan Air – Buffalo 2009

Are Pilots Immune?

Air France 447 – Atlantic Ocean 2010

Are Pilots Immune?

Griffith Aerospace Safety Centre

B737 Simulator Startle Experiment

QUESTIONS?

Griffith Aerospace Safety Centre