ABSTRACT
The effect of stress upon maze performance is all the more interesting when it is known that cognitive maze tracing ability has been shown in one flight simulation study to be linked to pilots' ability to detect relevant decision cues from their environment. After identifying some of the psychomotor and cognitive functions that characterize various aspects of the pilot's task, the chapter explores what is known of the effects of stress upon these performance variables. These discussions are also relevant to the controller's task, insofar as there is significant overlap in the cognitive requirements of air traffic control and flight tasks. Cognitive maze tracing involves no physical tracking through the maze, so the measure is not confounded with manual control. It is an intriguing fact that cognitive maze tracing scores fall dramatically under the effect of alcohol and, sometimes, depression.
