Objective: To quantify panic-related cognitive state using physiological indicators and examine its effects on emergency behavioral performance under acute stress. Methods: 82 participants completed emergency response tasks in a virtual reality scenario, while skin conductance level (SCL), electroencephalography, and OCEAN personality traits were recorded. Principal component analysis was used to construct a Panic Cognition Index (PCI). Regression models assessed associations between PCI and behavioral performance. Results: Neuroticism significantly increased SCL. Openness increased θ power and decreased α power, while extraversion was positively associated with β power. The PCI explained 77.48% of total physiological variance. PCI significantly predicted reaction time and showed an inverted U-shaped relationship with walking efficiency, with optimal performance at PCI=0.605. Conclusions: Physiological signals enable objective quantification of panic cognition. PCI provides a measurable indicator for emergency performance assessment and occupational safety evaluation.
Zhang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.