Stress as a Mediator to the Physiological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Human Effects of Flashbang Grenades

In military operational contexts, flashbang grenades (FBGs) may be used, for example, to disburse crowds or disorient people. FBGs are considered an intermediate force capability in that they are not intended to cause significant injury to their human targets. Instead, FRBs rely on human behavioral responses to bright flashes of light, loud explosions, and shockwave overpressure. This report analyzes the potential for the human stress response to be a significant determinant of the behavior of humans who are FBG targets. Our analysis considers how the stress response is triggered and how it motivates a behavioral change. We offer additional avenues of research that could further advance efforts to characterize the effectiveness of using FBGs to attain Department of Defense military goals.