Advances in the technology of autonomous systems calls for an examination of the factors that confer resilience on the human-machine system. We identify challenges for teaming between human operators and autonomous systems associated with cognitive demands, trust and operator self-regulation. Solutions to these challenges partly require designing systems for effective signaling of capabilities and “intent” to the human operator. They also require selection and training of operators to team with systems that may simulate intelligent, social behaviors, as well as diagnostic monitoring of operator neurocognitive status. Implementing such solutions supports resilience at a systems level, so that machine and human can compensate for each other's limitations in challenging circumstances.

Since the terrorist events of the 11th September 2001, the world as it was once known was changed forever. It was these catastrophic terrorist actions over fifteen years ago that saw the dawn of a new era with heightened security across many everyday areas of society that had not previously witnessed such scrutiny or control. Coupling this elevated risk of physical and technical aggression with the ever-increasing global per capita energy demand – there has been witnessed a continually growing reliance on nuclear energy for baseline power generation, a form of electricity production that requires both the necessary international safeguards and controls for its safe use. As more and more of the global energy budget is provided by low-carbon sources (over highly-polluting fossil fuels), the volume of nuclear material in existence will grow substantially – requiring considerable attention and policy to ensure its long-term safety and security.This commentary describes the vast range of policy challenges faced by the nuclear industry resulting from the rapid technological advancements being made across society, and how these directly (and indirectly) affect global nuclear security, as well as providing a thorough discussion on how best these challenges may be overcome.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is said to confer resilience under stress. The present study tested this hypothesis using a negative feedback manipulation to induce stress during a decision-making task. A multimedia situational judgment task (SJT) was used to measure EI as an ability. Participants (N = 172) used a map display to sample information and chose between routes for finding a lost party of explorers, followed by feedback on their choice. The quality of the decision and the level of information search activity were assessed. Negative feedback elevated distress and impaired decision-making, relative to neutral feedback. However, negative feedback effects were not moderated by EI. EI was positively correlated with information search activity in both feedback conditions. Thus, the study found no evidence that high EI supports effective coping with stress during decision-making. EI may be generally associated with effort directed towards information search. Benefits of EI may, in part, have a motivational basis, e.g., in scanning for social cues.

Task performance is frequently stressful, especially when the task imposes high cognitive demands. Research has shown that the subjective stress response to performance is multidimensional. Different types of task demand elicit different patterns of response. This chapter reviews the use of the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ: Matthews et al., 2002) in the investigation of task -induced stress. The DSSQ is based on a factor model that differentiates 11 primary state factors, which cohere around three higher-order dimensions of task engagement, distress and worry. Following a review of the psychometric evidence for this factorial structure, the chapter surveys evidence on the differing profiles of state change produced by a range of basic and applied performance tasks. It als o reviews evidence that links stress states to cognitive appraisal and coping processes, consistent with the transactional model of stress. Data also show that the DSSQ factors predict objective performance. These findings may be understood in relation to the emerging cognitive neuroscience of attention. The final section of the chapter covers practical issues in using the DSSQ for assessment of stress in basic and applied contexts.

Air battle management (ABM) operations place high demands on operator attention; operator teams are required to manage an airspace cluttered with aircraft, identify changes in amity of entities and respond appropriately to these aircraft. Awareness of the severe consequence of errors in detection and the risk of physical harm may contribute to operator stress and anxiety. Operators high in trait anxiety might then be vulnerable to adverse consequences including excessive stress, workload and performance impairment. In addition, anxiety research shows a selective attention bias to threat-related information which may impact operator strategy. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of trait and state anxiety in dyads performing a simulated ABM task. In general, dyads high in trait anxiety appeared to cope fairly effectively with task demands, and performed better on defensive aspects of the ABM task. The role of trait anxiety in team composition is briefly discussed. Language: en

Affective states may influence decision-making at different stages of information processing, including selective attention, situation assessment and choice of action. Studies of state anxiety, a negative emotional state, reveal multiple biases including an attentional bias to threat-related stimuli and biases at later stages. The present study examined the effects of threat and both trait and state anxiety on decision-making in a simulated rescue task. Participants were induced into a mood (neutral or anxious) and asked to choose the fastest route leading to a lost party by evaluating uncertain benefits and costs for several routes. The results confirm that mood induction methods can be used for decision-making tasks. Additionally, these findings suggest that different forms of ‘affect’ may relate to different biases. Task-related threat and induced mood influenced route choice, but trait and state anxiety influenced selective attention to benefits and costs.