In addition, the simulation shows how much comes down to the way one person is feeling that day. Too much coffee, lack of sleep, an extra glass of wine after dinner, could all have catastrophic escalatory consequences.

However, despite an ongoing debate about the President’s “sole authority” to launch America’s nuclear arsenal, having a civilian in charge could help to de-escalate a nuclear crisis.

The prospect of losing all your land-based ICBMs is anathema to a general, but less so to a civilian.

According to those behind the experiment the vast majority of people who go through it do end up launching nuclear weapons and killing millions of people in Russia.

Some even go straight for the option which takes out Russia’s leadership and effectively annihilates the country.

There have been “presidents” who pound the table. Others, when they take the headset off after launching, have tears in their eyes.

The experiment is a collaboration between Princeton, American University, and the University of Hamburg, and data is expected in the summer.

Its chillingly realistic simulation was created by the British virtual reality company Holosphere.

Sharon Weiner, associate professor at American University, said: “In VR part of your brain makes you think you really are the president.

“Most people launch. All are frustrated with the experience. People are troubled by the fact that there wasn’t another option.”

Moritz Kütt, senior researcher at the University of Hamburg, said: “Some people think you can stop the incoming missiles. But they learn you can’t stop them.”