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Assessment of Resilience of the Hellenic Navy Seals by Electrodermal Activity during Cognitive Tasks

Author

Listed:
  • Stamatis Mourtakos

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens School of Medicine, 11528 Athens, Greece
    Medical School, Department of Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Georgia Vassiliou

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens School of Medicine, 11528 Athens, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Kontoangelos

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens School of Medicine, 11528 Athens, Greece)

  • Christos Papageorgiou

    (251 Air Force General Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Anastasios Philippou

    (Medical School, Department of Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Fragkiskos Bersimis

    (Department of Supply Chain Management, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece)

  • Nikolaos Geladas

    (School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Division of Sport Medicine and Biology of Exercise, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237 Athens, Greece)

  • Michael Koutsilieris

    (Medical School, Department of Physiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Labros S. Sidossis

    (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 17671 Athens, Greece
    Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Charalampos Tsirmpas

    (Department of Technology, Sentio Solutions Inc., 11525 Athens, Greece)

  • Charalabos Papageorgiou

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Athens School of Medicine, 11528 Athens, Greece
    Department of Neurosciences and Precision Medicine, University Mental Health Research Institute “Costas Stefanis”, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Konstantina G. Yiannopoulou

    (2nd Neurological Department, Henry Dunant Hospital Center, 11526 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Stress resilience plays a key role in task performance during emergencies, especially in occupations like military special forces, with a routine consisting of unexpected events. Nevertheless, reliable and applicable measurements of resilience in predicting task performance in stressful conditions are still researched. This study aimed to explore the stress response in the Hellenic Navy SEALs (HN-SEALs), using a cognitive–physiological approach. Eighteen candidates under intense preparation for their enlistment in the HN-SEALs and 16 healthy controls (HCs) underwent Stroop tests, along with mental-state and personality examination. Simultaneously, electrodermal activity (EDA) was assessed during each one of cognitive testing procedures. Compared to healthy control values, multiple components of EDA values were found decreased ( p < 0.05) in the HN-SEALs group. These results were associated with an increase in resilience level in the HN-SEALs group, since a restricted sympathetic reactivity according to the reduced EDA values was observed during the stressful cognitive testing. This is the first report providing physiological measurements of the sympathetic response of HN-SEALs to a stressful situation and suggests that EDA turns out to be a simple and objective tool of sympathetic activation and it may be used as a complementary index of resilience in HN-SEALs candidates.

Suggested Citation

  • Stamatis Mourtakos & Georgia Vassiliou & Konstantinos Kontoangelos & Christos Papageorgiou & Anastasios Philippou & Fragkiskos Bersimis & Nikolaos Geladas & Michael Koutsilieris & Labros S. Sidossis &, 2021. "Assessment of Resilience of the Hellenic Navy Seals by Electrodermal Activity during Cognitive Tasks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4384-:d:539981
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