Can biological motion research provide insight on how to reduce friendly fire incidents?

Kylie A. Steel, David Baxter, Sera Dogramaci, Stephen Cobley, Eathan Ellem

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The ability to accurately detect, perceive, and recognize biological motion can be associated with a fundamental drive for survival, and it is a significant interest for perception researchers. This field examines various perceptual features of motion and has been assessed and applied in several real-world contexts (e.g., biometric, sport). Unexplored applications still exist however, including the military issue of friendly fire. There are many causes and processes leading to friendly fire and specific challenges that are associated with visual information extraction during engagement, such as brief glimpses, low acuity, camouflage, and uniform deception. Furthermore, visual information must often be processed under highly stressful (potentially threatening), time-constrained conditions that present a significant problem for soldiers. Biological motion research and anecdotal evidence from experienced combatants suggests that intentions, emotions, identities of human motion can be identified and discriminated, even when visual display is degraded or limited. Furthermore, research suggests that perceptual discriminatory capability of movement under visually constrained conditions is trainable. Therefore, given the limited military research linked to biological motion and friendly fire, an opportunity for cross-disciplinary investigations exists. The focus of this paper is twofold: first, to provide evidence for the possible link between biological motion factors and friendly fire, and second, to propose conceptual and methodological considerations and recommendations for perceptual-cognitive training within current military programs.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1429-1439
    Number of pages11
    JournalPsychonomic Bulletin and Review
    Volume23
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2016

    Keywords

    • biological motion
    • friendly fire
    • intention
    • recognition

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Can biological motion research provide insight on how to reduce friendly fire incidents?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this