TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - Earthquakes on the mind: implications of disasters for human performance
JO  - Human factors
A1  - Helton, William S.
A1  - Head, James
SP  - 189
EP  - 194
VL  - 54
IS  - 2
N2  - Objective: The present study explored the impact a natural disaster has on human performance. Background: Previous research indicates that traffic accidents increase after disasters. A plausible explanation for this finding is that disasters induce cognitive disruption and this disruption negatively affects performance (e.g., driving quality). Method: A total of 16 participants (7 men and 9 women) performed a sustained-attention-to-response task before and after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake. Performance (errors of omission, errors of commission, and reaction time) was compared before and after the earthquake. Results: Errors of omission increased after the earthquake. Changes in errors of commission and reaction times were, however, dependent on individual differences in stress response to the earthquake. Conclusion: The results indicate that natural disasters may have a negative impact on performance. Application: Communities need to be aware of the increased risk of accidents following disasters and develop countermeasures, including individualized assessment tools.<p /> <p>Language: en</p> 
LA  - en
SN  - 0018-7208
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018720811430503
ID  - ref1
ER  -