UNPHASED: Moral decision making in stressful situations

Introduction

Acute stress may affect the human brain and behaviour by activating several biological processes, preparing the body against potential danger. Unfortunately, these effects of stress have been shown to potentially impair the capacity to make decisions. In military context, making errors in decisions during deployment might result in severe consequences. Other than that, military members on duty are possibly confronted with decisions that are characterized by a moral component. Choices have to be made in which lives are at stake, while these choices often have to be made in stressful circumstances.

We would like to find out which biological processes are responsible for the effects of acute stress on decision-making, giving rise to the UNPHASED research project. During the project, medicinal products will be used to activate biological processes involved in a stress response. To observe the effects of the medicinal products, heartrate and salivary samples will be taken. The effects of the medicinal products on decision-making will be measured using several computer tasks.

To complete the UNPHASED project, 100 participants between 18 and 60 years of age are required. The study will take one session and will take 2,5 hours in total.

Project overview

Objective:

To find out which biological process involved in the acute stress response affects several (moral) decision-making processes.

Study population:

Healthy military members on active duty, (18 – 60) years of age.

Timeframe:

The study will start in 2024. The expected duration is 2 years.

Results:

Results will be expected at the end of 2025.