The U.S. Army is adding emotional realism to its battlefield computer simulations, using sophisticated computer animation, voice synthesis, voice recognition, and surround theater sound in research at the University of Southern California, under a $45 million Army grant.

The exercise illustrates the latest challenge among researchers: to focus on the more unpredictable side of the human psyche, simulating emotions and the unexpected effects that panic, stress, anxiety and fear can have on actions and decisions when an officer or a soldier is deep in the fog of war.