Abstract |
This report concerns the design of a field experiment for a military setting in which the effects of carbon monoxide on neurobehavioral variables are to be studied. A field experiment is distinguished from a survey by the fact that independent variables are manipulated, just as in the laboratory. Thus causal relationships may be discovered rather than correlation. It was proposed to study the effects of multiple levels of CO exposure on compensatory tracking (main gun pointing at a target in a tank), electroencephalogram spectra and speech discrimination. Factors which govern the experimental design were considered in detail. Statistical and control matters were discussed. Many measurements which were proposed required special instrumentation. The control of the experiment and the acquisition of data required the interconnection of the special instrumentation with equipment at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The present report documents the development and/or testing of some of the special equipment (EEG helmet, facemask, control and data acquisition system) and specifies how it is to be connected to the other equipment to make a working system. Field experimental design, face mask, telemetry exposure, carbon monoxide, EEG, toxic gas. |