Which of the following is listed as a visual performance effect of survival stress?

• A. Tunnel vision
• B. Glare sensitivity
• C. Color blindness
• D. Peripheral distortion

Answer: (A)

Under survival stress, the body’s quick response is to focus on the most immediate task at hand, which often narrows the visual field. This narrowing is called tunnel vision: your central vision stays relatively clear, but the sides of your view fade or disappear, so peripheral cues become hard to notice.

This happens because the fight-or-flight response reallocates blood flow and attention to the brain and muscles needed for rapid action, reducing peripheral retinal processing and broad situational awareness. In high-stress situations, that tight focus can be a double-edged sword—helpful for concentrating on a specific target, but risky because hazards on the periphery can be missed.

Glare sensitivity involves trouble with bright light, color vision changes aren’t typically caused by acute stress, and peripheral distortion isn’t the classic hallmark of survival stress. Tunnel vision best captures the common visual performance effect described in these scenarios.