ABSTRACT
Why should we care about these environments? We care because we know that stressors of many types associated with extreme environments can significantly influence cognitive processes in general and decision making in particular. While these environments may appear exotic, in fact they are ubiquitous in our modern society. People routinely choose to work or play in these environments for a variety of reasons. Humans push the frontiers in search of knowledge, personal achievement, and maintenance of peace and security. As noted by the Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments (HPEE), “Endeavors under the earth and sea, at the Earth’s poles, and in space have afforded numerous benefits to humankind and illustrate some of our greatest achievements” (HPEE, Web site).
