The Effects of Commando Training on Stress, Cognitive Performance, and Group Behavior in Military Personnel: An Exploratory Study
Trousselard, M., Claverie, D., Deleplanque, L., Taurin, E., Bassan, N., De Parseval, E., Romand Monnier, M., Clot, C., De Boisboissel, G., Henry, S., Vergnes, A., Sevenou, Y., Delibes, M., Daniel, Y., Giaume, L.
Contact : l.giaume@gmail.com
Abstract of the article published the 03/12/2025 in Military Medicine
Context: Military personnel are exposed to a high level of operational stress that degrades their psychophysiological and cogni- tive performance and could impact the mission. Commando training is a unique opportunity to assess psychological, physiological, and cognitive performance in an ecological setting.
Method: Psychological, physiological, and cognitive performance were evaluated at baseline, and before and after a 1-week commando training course consisting of exercises and night walks. Psychological factors (anxiety, subjective stress), physiological measures (heart rate variability, electrodermal conductance), cognitive behavior (cognitive bias, risk- taking, decision-making), and cognitive performance (the MindPulse neurophysiological test) were assessed. Volunteers were 39 young (mean age 21.6 years) French army officers.
Results : Blind spot bias was found in all participants before training, except for the action-inaction bias. We observed a deterioration in parasympathetic functioning (Root Mean Square of Successive Differences, P =.05), an increase in subjective fatigue (P < .001), and impaired cognitive performance: reaction time (P= .02, FP = .02, F = 5.77), errors (P = .03, F = 4.97). Post-training, we observed an emerging group dynamic, notably an increase in avoidance (buck-passing)P = .002, F (P= .002, F= 10,43), a reduction of the action-inaction biasP = .009, F (P= .009, F= 7.59), ostrich effectP = .008, F (P= .008, F= 7.83) and stereotyping bias (P = .03, F = 5,11).
Discussion: Commando training increases stress and impacts the cognitive performance of military personnel. Pre-deployment preparation could consider the need for physiological recovery, and the impact of deployment on cognitive performance.
