PPCT EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) is divided into two parts what are they? -
ANS ~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 - ANS ~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? - ANS Reduction up to 70% of peripheral
field
what are the three basic motor skills? - ANS ~Fine Motor Skills - 115BPM, fine motor skills -
report writing, survival reloading
~Complex Motor Skills - 145BPM, involve series of muscle groups, precision, tracking timing
~Gross Motor Skills - skills involve large muscle groups, straight punch, increases in effectiveness
as SNS activated heart rate increases
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is the inverted U - ANS ~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? - ANS 115/145 BPM
parasympathetic nervous system - ANS ~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? - ANS 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? - ANS ~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
What is the ATP/PC system - ANS ~Small energy bundles stored in the muscles, used during
high energy and strength activities
~100% Performance lasts 10-15 seconds. Drops to 45% within 30 seconds
What is the lactic acid system? - ANS Once ATP/PC system is depleted LAS will act as
afterburner fuel, 45 seconds intermediate strength and endurance
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2025/2026.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) is divided into two parts what are they? -
ANS ~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 - ANS ~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? - ANS Reduction up to 70% of peripheral
field
what are the three basic motor skills? - ANS ~Fine Motor Skills - 115BPM, fine motor skills -
report writing, survival reloading
~Complex Motor Skills - 145BPM, involve series of muscle groups, precision, tracking timing
~Gross Motor Skills - skills involve large muscle groups, straight punch, increases in effectiveness
as SNS activated heart rate increases
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What is the inverted U - ANS ~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? - ANS 115/145 BPM
parasympathetic nervous system - ANS ~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? - ANS 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? - ANS ~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
What is the ATP/PC system - ANS ~Small energy bundles stored in the muscles, used during
high energy and strength activities
~100% Performance lasts 10-15 seconds. Drops to 45% within 30 seconds
What is the lactic acid system? - ANS Once ATP/PC system is depleted LAS will act as
afterburner fuel, 45 seconds intermediate strength and endurance
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
