PPCT Definitions Exam Questions and
Answers (Graded A)
Combat Anxiety - ANSWER-the anticipation of danger
Survival Stress - ANSWER-deadly force threat perception that initiates the sns
discharge.
Combat Stress - ANSWER-deals with the post event mental and psychological
symptoms that resulted from sns being activated
Autonomic Nervous System - ANSWER-regulates the heart, stomach, and intestines
Parasympathetic Nervous System - ANSWER-allows us to rest and digest, and lowers
blood pressure and heart rate
Sympathetic Nervous System - ANSWER-controls reflexes that are designed to help us
react and survive when facing danger
Objective Threat Perception - ANSWER-threat is in close proximity and they are not
confident in their abilities so you apprehend them quickly
Objective Fear Perception - ANSWER-a person having fear of death, injury, killing,
incorrect decision making failure simply fear itself
Physical Exhaustion - ANSWER-depletion of adenosine trisposphate/phosphocreatine
fuel system
Epinephrine - ANSWER-hormones from adrenal medulla
Vasoconstriction - ANSWER-blood flow constriction to extremities in stressful moments
Vasodilatation - ANSWER-dilation of blood vessels, decreases blood pressure
Perceptual Narrowing - ANSWER-once a threat is perceived only the most important
sense is used in that situation. All other senses are not registered at that moment.
Auditory Exclusion - ANSWER-a situation where the ability to hear is not excluded and
another sense is used
Tunnel Vision - ANSWER-constriction of vision and the loss of peripheral vision
, Fine Motor Skills - ANSWER-requires hand/eye coordination and hand dexterity
Complex Motor Skills - ANSWER-involves a series of muscle groups in a series of
movements requiring hand/eye coordination, precision, tracking, and timing
Gross Motor Skills - ANSWER-those skills that involve large muscle or major muscle
groups
Inverted U-Law - ANSWER-performance will gradually deteriorate as stress levels
increase
Perceptual Senses - ANSWER-sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, sixth sense
Short-term sensory store - ANSWER-allows an officer to respond automatically to a
spontaneous threat, with little or no higher brain function involved
Short-term Memory - ANSWER-analyzes and evaluates the information received and
formulates a strategy upon training and past experiences
Long-term Memory - ANSWER-when the short term memory is unable to analyze and
evaluate
Parasympathetic Backlash - ANSWER-used during rest and digest after sns has been
activated. When the threat has diminished pns will activate
Carbohydrates - ANSWER-a sugar or starch that is rich in energy and is made of
carbon. Slow and fast burning
Proteins - ANSWER-made up of amino acids that builds muscle and is used in stressful
times to increase mental performance
Fats - ANSWER-primary source of energy for the body and are a transporter for amino
acids
Hydration - ANSWER-hydrating the body regularly increases performance
ATP/PC System - ANSWER-consist of small energy bundles that are stored in muscles.
This is used in high energy and high stress situations
Lactic Acid System - ANSWER-this system comes after ATP has burned off. It acts as
an afterburner
Aerobic System - ANSWER-Last system activated. It is fueled by combination of
oxygen, carbohydrates, and free fatty acids
Answers (Graded A)
Combat Anxiety - ANSWER-the anticipation of danger
Survival Stress - ANSWER-deadly force threat perception that initiates the sns
discharge.
Combat Stress - ANSWER-deals with the post event mental and psychological
symptoms that resulted from sns being activated
Autonomic Nervous System - ANSWER-regulates the heart, stomach, and intestines
Parasympathetic Nervous System - ANSWER-allows us to rest and digest, and lowers
blood pressure and heart rate
Sympathetic Nervous System - ANSWER-controls reflexes that are designed to help us
react and survive when facing danger
Objective Threat Perception - ANSWER-threat is in close proximity and they are not
confident in their abilities so you apprehend them quickly
Objective Fear Perception - ANSWER-a person having fear of death, injury, killing,
incorrect decision making failure simply fear itself
Physical Exhaustion - ANSWER-depletion of adenosine trisposphate/phosphocreatine
fuel system
Epinephrine - ANSWER-hormones from adrenal medulla
Vasoconstriction - ANSWER-blood flow constriction to extremities in stressful moments
Vasodilatation - ANSWER-dilation of blood vessels, decreases blood pressure
Perceptual Narrowing - ANSWER-once a threat is perceived only the most important
sense is used in that situation. All other senses are not registered at that moment.
Auditory Exclusion - ANSWER-a situation where the ability to hear is not excluded and
another sense is used
Tunnel Vision - ANSWER-constriction of vision and the loss of peripheral vision
, Fine Motor Skills - ANSWER-requires hand/eye coordination and hand dexterity
Complex Motor Skills - ANSWER-involves a series of muscle groups in a series of
movements requiring hand/eye coordination, precision, tracking, and timing
Gross Motor Skills - ANSWER-those skills that involve large muscle or major muscle
groups
Inverted U-Law - ANSWER-performance will gradually deteriorate as stress levels
increase
Perceptual Senses - ANSWER-sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, sixth sense
Short-term sensory store - ANSWER-allows an officer to respond automatically to a
spontaneous threat, with little or no higher brain function involved
Short-term Memory - ANSWER-analyzes and evaluates the information received and
formulates a strategy upon training and past experiences
Long-term Memory - ANSWER-when the short term memory is unable to analyze and
evaluate
Parasympathetic Backlash - ANSWER-used during rest and digest after sns has been
activated. When the threat has diminished pns will activate
Carbohydrates - ANSWER-a sugar or starch that is rich in energy and is made of
carbon. Slow and fast burning
Proteins - ANSWER-made up of amino acids that builds muscle and is used in stressful
times to increase mental performance
Fats - ANSWER-primary source of energy for the body and are a transporter for amino
acids
Hydration - ANSWER-hydrating the body regularly increases performance
ATP/PC System - ANSWER-consist of small energy bundles that are stored in muscles.
This is used in high energy and high stress situations
Lactic Acid System - ANSWER-this system comes after ATP has burned off. It acts as
an afterburner
Aerobic System - ANSWER-Last system activated. It is fueled by combination of
oxygen, carbohydrates, and free fatty acids
