PPCT EXAMINATION TEST 2026
COMPREHENSIVE Q&A STUDY GUIDE
◉What is the definition of survival stress? Answer: Deadly force
threat that activates the sympathetic nervous system
◉What is the definition of combat stress? Answer: Mental /
psychological symptoms of going from SNS to PNS 'backlash'
◉What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
Answer: Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) & Sympathetic
Nervous System (SNS)
◉What are the four triggers that activate the SNS? Answer:
Objective threat perceptions, objective fear perceptions, physical
exhaustion, startle response
◉What causes physical exhaustion? Answer: Depletion of
Adenosine Triphosphate / Phosphocreatine (ATP/PC)
,◉How does sleep help with critical incident amnesia? Answer: First
sleep period increases recall of events 50-90%, most complete
recovery after second sleep period
◉What are the three basic motor skill classifications? Answer: Fine
motor skills, Complex motor skills, Gross motor skills
◉What theory states that as stress levels increase, performance
deteriorates? Answer: Inverted U-Law
◉What senses do perceptions come from? Answer: Sight, sound,
taste, touch, smell, & sixth sense
◉Where is the first place perceptions are managed? Answer: Short
term sensory store (STSS)
◉Where are perceptions analyzed and evaluated and strategy
formed? Answer: Short term memory (STM)
◉Where does a response strategy come from if there is nothing in
the STM? Answer: Long term memory (LTM)
◉What are the combat variables? Answer: Mindset, Nutrition /
hydration, Fitness, Belief system
, ◉What are the two groups of carbohydrates? Answer: Fast burning,
Slow burning
◉What are proteins? Answer: Maintain and build muscle used as
energy source
◉What are fats? Answer: A source of energy, slow entry of carbs
into bloodstream, make you feel fuller
◉What amount of fluid loss can impair functions and increase
fatigue? Answer: 2% of body weight
◉What are the three primary energy systems of the body? Answer:
ATP / PC System, Lactic acid system, Aerobic system
◉What energy levels do you have with the ATP / PC system?
Answer: 100% max output for 10-15 seconds, then decrease up to
45%
◉What energy level does the lactic acid system provide? Answer: 45
seconds of intermediate energy after ATP system used up
COMPREHENSIVE Q&A STUDY GUIDE
◉What is the definition of survival stress? Answer: Deadly force
threat that activates the sympathetic nervous system
◉What is the definition of combat stress? Answer: Mental /
psychological symptoms of going from SNS to PNS 'backlash'
◉What are the two branches of the autonomic nervous system?
Answer: Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) & Sympathetic
Nervous System (SNS)
◉What are the four triggers that activate the SNS? Answer:
Objective threat perceptions, objective fear perceptions, physical
exhaustion, startle response
◉What causes physical exhaustion? Answer: Depletion of
Adenosine Triphosphate / Phosphocreatine (ATP/PC)
,◉How does sleep help with critical incident amnesia? Answer: First
sleep period increases recall of events 50-90%, most complete
recovery after second sleep period
◉What are the three basic motor skill classifications? Answer: Fine
motor skills, Complex motor skills, Gross motor skills
◉What theory states that as stress levels increase, performance
deteriorates? Answer: Inverted U-Law
◉What senses do perceptions come from? Answer: Sight, sound,
taste, touch, smell, & sixth sense
◉Where is the first place perceptions are managed? Answer: Short
term sensory store (STSS)
◉Where are perceptions analyzed and evaluated and strategy
formed? Answer: Short term memory (STM)
◉Where does a response strategy come from if there is nothing in
the STM? Answer: Long term memory (LTM)
◉What are the combat variables? Answer: Mindset, Nutrition /
hydration, Fitness, Belief system
, ◉What are the two groups of carbohydrates? Answer: Fast burning,
Slow burning
◉What are proteins? Answer: Maintain and build muscle used as
energy source
◉What are fats? Answer: A source of energy, slow entry of carbs
into bloodstream, make you feel fuller
◉What amount of fluid loss can impair functions and increase
fatigue? Answer: 2% of body weight
◉What are the three primary energy systems of the body? Answer:
ATP / PC System, Lactic acid system, Aerobic system
◉What energy levels do you have with the ATP / PC system?
Answer: 100% max output for 10-15 seconds, then decrease up to
45%
◉What energy level does the lactic acid system provide? Answer: 45
seconds of intermediate energy after ATP system used up
