Nuclear Survivability/Vulnerability of Aircrews: An Experimental Approach

摘要

The complexity of modern manned-weapons systems requires maximal operator proficiency to insure mission success. This experiment was designed to determine, using trained subhuman primates, the effects of ionizing radiation upon tracking and discrete-avoidance behavior. During exposure to cobalt 60 gamma radiation given in divided doses over 7 1/2 hours, the monkeys performed Multiple Alternative Reaction Time (MART) tasks and on the Primate Equilibrium Platform (PEP). Testing at two radiation levels is reported: a high-dose total of 1,440 rad (14.4 Gy) and a low-dose total of 360 rad (3.6 Gy). Testing and observation were done for a total of 10 hours on the day of irradiation for both radiation levels and on the day following irradiation for the high-dose level only. (Author)