Earthquakes on the Mind: Implications of Disasters for Human Performance

OBJECTIVE The present study explored the impact a natural disaster has on human performance. BACKGROUND Previous research indicates that traffic accidents increase after disasters. A plausible explanation for this finding is that disasters induce cognitive disruption and this disruption negatively affects performance (e.g., driving quality). METHOD A total of 16 participants (7 men and 9 women) performed a sustained-attention-to-response task before and after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake. Performance (errors of omission, errors of commission, and reaction time) was compared before and after the earthquake. RESULTS Errors of omission increased after the earthquake. Changes in errors of commission and reaction times were, however, dependent on individual differences in stress response to the earthquake. CONCLUSION The results indicate that natural disasters may have a negative impact on performance. APPLICATION Communities need to be aware of the increased risk of accidents following disasters and develop countermeasures, including individualized assessment tools.