PPCT Exam 2025 Questions and
Answers
autonomic nervous system (ANS) is divided into two parts what are they? - ANSWER✔✔-
~Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) "Flight & Fight" - activates for stressful situation
~Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) "Rest & Digest" - operates in mainly a quiet, non-stressful
condition
what are the three mental states during combat - ANSWER✔✔-~Combat Anxiety - prior,
anticipation of danger
~Survival Stress - during, deadly force threat perception initiates SNS discharge
~Combat Stress - post event mental/physiological symptoms that are a result of the SNS activation
and the sudden return to the PNS. "PNS Backlash"
What does tunnel vision do to your peripheral field? - ANSWER✔✔-Reduction up to 70% of
peripheral field
what are the three basic motor skills? - ANSWER✔✔-~Fine Motor Skills - 115BPM, fine motor
skills - report writing, survival reloading
~Complex Motor Skills - 145BPM, involve series of muscle groups, precision, tracking timing
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, ~Gross Motor Skills - skills involve large muscle groups, straight punch, increases in effectiveness as
SNS activated heart rate increases
What is the inverted U - ANSWER✔✔-~Examines the optimal heart rate zone for optimal
performance.
~As arousal increases so will motor performance to a point, if arousal too high performance
decreases
~Moderate (Optimally Aroused) = Maximum Performance
What is the optimal performance heart rate? - ANSWER✔✔-115/145 BPM
parasympathetic nervous system - ANSWER✔✔-~Perception that the threat has diminished, injury,
trauma to a vital system, or exhaustion of the aerobic/anaerobic systems
~After SNS is activated situations can occur that cause the body to experience these "backlash"
triggers
What is critical incident amnesia? - ANSWER✔✔-A form of temporary amnesia occurs
(subsequent) after SNS mass discharge, which includes the release of the stress hormone cortisol
What are the steps in incident reporting? - ANSWER✔✔-~First report "preliminary report" should
be verbal and titled
~Writing may be difficult due to PNS Backlash
~"Supplemental" debrief/report should not occur until after 1st sleep period
~Final report should not occur until after 2nd sleep period
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
Answers
autonomic nervous system (ANS) is divided into two parts what are they? - ANSWER✔✔-
~Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) "Flight & Fight" - activates for stressful situation
~Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) "Rest & Digest" - operates in mainly a quiet, non-stressful
condition
what are the three mental states during combat - ANSWER✔✔-~Combat Anxiety - prior,
anticipation of danger
~Survival Stress - during, deadly force threat perception initiates SNS discharge
~Combat Stress - post event mental/physiological symptoms that are a result of the SNS activation
and the sudden return to the PNS. "PNS Backlash"
What does tunnel vision do to your peripheral field? - ANSWER✔✔-Reduction up to 70% of
peripheral field
what are the three basic motor skills? - ANSWER✔✔-~Fine Motor Skills - 115BPM, fine motor
skills - report writing, survival reloading
~Complex Motor Skills - 145BPM, involve series of muscle groups, precision, tracking timing
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, ~Gross Motor Skills - skills involve large muscle groups, straight punch, increases in effectiveness as
SNS activated heart rate increases
What is the inverted U - ANSWER✔✔-~Examines the optimal heart rate zone for optimal
performance.
~As arousal increases so will motor performance to a point, if arousal too high performance
decreases
~Moderate (Optimally Aroused) = Maximum Performance
What is the optimal performance heart rate? - ANSWER✔✔-115/145 BPM
parasympathetic nervous system - ANSWER✔✔-~Perception that the threat has diminished, injury,
trauma to a vital system, or exhaustion of the aerobic/anaerobic systems
~After SNS is activated situations can occur that cause the body to experience these "backlash"
triggers
What is critical incident amnesia? - ANSWER✔✔-A form of temporary amnesia occurs
(subsequent) after SNS mass discharge, which includes the release of the stress hormone cortisol
What are the steps in incident reporting? - ANSWER✔✔-~First report "preliminary report" should
be verbal and titled
~Writing may be difficult due to PNS Backlash
~"Supplemental" debrief/report should not occur until after 1st sleep period
~Final report should not occur until after 2nd sleep period
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
