A Comparison of Target Detection and Rifle Marksmanship During Live and Simulator Firing with and without Caffeine Consumption

This study compared the effects of caffeine ingestion on target detection and rifle marksmanship during live and simulated firing. thirteen male, rifle-trained Canadian Forces (CF) reservists performed a total of 1 familiarization and 4 experimental sessions over an 8 day period. Familiarization was...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Keefe, Allan A, Tikuisis, Peter
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCURACY
Anatomy and Physiology
BLOOD
BLOOD PLASMA
CAFFEINE
CANADA
COMPARISON
CONSUMPTION
FOREIGN REPORTS
FRENCH LANGUAGE
MARKSMANSHIP
MILITARY RESERVES
QUESTIONNAIRES
RIFLES
SENSES(PHYSIOLOGY)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
SIMULATION
SKILLS
SMALL ARMS
TARGET DETECTION
Target Direction, Range and Position Finding
TARGETING
TRAINING DEVICES
VISION
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Description
Summary:This study compared the effects of caffeine ingestion on target detection and rifle marksmanship during live and simulated firing. thirteen male, rifle-trained Canadian Forces (CF) reservists performed a total of 1 familiarization and 4 experimental sessions over an 8 day period. Familiarization was conducted on the small arms trainer (SAT), while the 4 experimental sessions were randomly and evenly distributed between 2 sessions of SAT and Automated Targetry System (ATS) live shooting. Each session was comprised of 8 shooting sequences one hour following the ingestion of 300 mg of caffeine or placebo. Shooting sequences included both friend-foe (FF) and vigilance (Vici) tasks and were performed in the following sequence: two FF engagements (4 minutes each), four VIG engagements (30 minutes each), and two FF engagements (4 minutes each). The shooting session lasted approximately 2.5 hours for both the caffeine and placebo trials. Performance measures during the shooting session included friend-foe discrimination, and marksmanship accuracy and precision. Assessments of thermal comfort and tiredness preceded and followed the shooting session. The Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire was administered pre- and post-shooting, while the Task Load Index was administered post-shooting only. Blood was sampled immediately prior to the beginning of the shooting session and was used to determine plasma caffeine levels. Caffeine resulted in lower subjective sensations of effort and an increased initial level of thirst. Subjects reported feeling colder on the ATS, and experienced blurred vision and lower levels on wakefullness on the SAT. Marksmanship performance was substantially poorer in the SAT and adversely affected by caffeine. No caffeine-induced performance decrements were noted on the ATS, but caffeine resulted in a greater number of shots taken on both the SAT and ATS. Text in English; abstract in English and French.