Sustaining and Enhancing High OPTEMPO Performance of Soldiers in the Transformed Military

The state of warfare over the past several decades has rapidly evolved, requiring an equally agile adaptation by Army forces. One of the most prevalent consequences of warfare is a lack of adequate rest. Soldiers can receive as little as 0-5 hours of sleep per night for the duration of deployments lasting 12-15 months. In those situations for which adequate sleep is not possible, it would be of value for the Army to understand which skills and abilities are most resilient to sleep deprivation, to pinpoint the underlying brain activity changes, and to determine which remote and reliable measures can serve as a surrogate for metrics that are difficult to measure in mobile individuals in a rugged environment. From the projects described in this paper, it has been possible to identify the regions of neural activity, cognitive abilities, and performance and physiological characteristics that are most robustly altered by sleep deprivation, as well as those that remain relatively unaffected. These deliverables will enable Soldiers on the field to maintain decision-making abilities, manage sustained operations, comprehend high rates of data presentation, and augment leadership effectiveness and cognitive flexibility. From these metrics, a model of human performance under sleep deprivation and physical strain is being developed for use in high optempo training. We are also investigating the use of optimized auditory, visual, and tactile cues for improved signaling communication, and for maintaining and renewing concentration to task.