Effects of Wind-Induced Building Motion on Cognitive Performance (No. R804)

Abstract

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of wind-induced building motion on cognitive performance. This was done with particular reference to determining whether there was a decrement in the performance of air traffic controllers due to motion in air traffic control towers. Field experiments were unsuccessful due to a lack of control of environmental factors. A laboratory motion simulator was designed and constructed. The laboratory experiments found no evidence of simulated wind-induced building motion affecting cognitive performance. Any effects which do exist are much smaller than inter- and intra-subject variability.