scholarly journals Cognitive Performance during a 24-Hour Cold Exposure Survival Simulation

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Michael J. Taber ◽  
Geoffrey L. Hartley ◽  
Gregory W. McGarr ◽  
Dessi Zaharieva ◽  
Fabien A. Basset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Metabolic Heat ◽  
Tolerable Level

Survivor of a ship ground in polar regions may have to wait more than five days before being rescued. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore cognitive performance during prolonged cold exposure. Core temperature (Tc) and cognitive test battery (CTB) performance data were collected from eight participants during 24 hours of cold exposure (7.5°C ambient air temperature). Participants (recruited from those who have regular occupational exposure to cold) were instructed that they could freely engage in minimal exercise that was perceived to maintaining a tolerable level of thermal comfort. Despite the active engagement, test conditions were sufficient to significantly decreaseTcafter exposure and to eliminate the typical 0.5–1.0°C circadian rise and drop in core temperature throughout a 24 h cycle. Results showed minimal changes in CTB performance regardless of exposure time. Based on the results, it is recommended that survivors who are waiting for rescue should be encouraged to engage in mild physical activity, which could have the benefit of maintaining metabolic heat production, improve motivation, and act as a distractor from cold discomfort. This recommendation should be taken into consideration during future research and when considering guidelines for mandatory survival equipment regarding cognitive performance.

scholarly journals The Effect of Cold Exposure on Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9725
Author(s):  
Marika Falla ◽  
Alessandro Micarelli ◽  
Katharina Hüfner ◽  
Giacomo Strapazzon
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Air Exposure ◽  
Cognitive Domains

Several aspects of cognition can be affected after cold exposure, but contradictory results have been reported regarding affected cognitive domains. The aim of the current systematic review was to evaluate the effects of specific cold exposure on cognitive performance in healthy subjects. A systematic search was performed using MEDLINE (through PubMed), EMBASE (Scopus) and PsycINFO databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria were healthy subjects exposed to a cold environment (either simulated or not) and cognitive performance related to cold exposure with an experimental design. The literature search identified 18 studies, eight studies investigated the effect of cold air exposure and ten the effect of cold water immersion on cognitive performance of healthy subjects. There were several differences among the studies (environmental temperature reached, time of exposure, timing, and type of cognitive test administration). Cold exposure induced in most of the experimental settings (15 of 18) an impairment of CP even before accidental hypothermia was established. The most investigated and affected cognitive domains were attention and processing speed, executive function, and memory. Gender differences and effects of repeated exposure and possible acclimation on cognitive performance need further studies to be confirmed.

scholarly journals Estimating Resting Core Temperature Using Heart Rate

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Looney ◽  
Mark J. Buller ◽  
Andrei V. Gribok ◽  
Jayme L. Leger ◽  
Adam W. Potter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Estimation Algorithm ◽  
Quadratic Equation ◽  
Estimation Accuracy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Military Populations ◽  
Thermal Work ◽  
Ct Data

ECTemp™ is a heart rate (HR)-based core temperature (CT) estimation algorithm mainly used as a real-time thermal-work strain indicator in military populations. ECTemp™ may also be valuable for resting CT estimation, which is critical for circadian rhythm research. This investigation developed and incorporated a sigmoid equation into ECTemp™ to better estimate resting CT. HR and CT data were collected over two calorimeter test trials from 16 volunteers (age, 23 ± 3 yrs; height, 1.72 ± 0.07 m; body mass, 68.5 ± 8.1 kg) during periods of sleep and inactivity. Half of the test trials were combined with ECTemp™’s original development dataset to train the new sigmoid model while the other was used for model validation. Models were compared by their estimation accuracy and precision. While both models produced accurate CT estimates, the sigmoid model had a smaller bias (−0.04 ± 0.26°C vs. −0.19 ± 0.29°C) and root mean square error (RMSE; 0.26°C vs. 0.35°C). ECTemp™ is a validated HR-based resting CT estimation algorithm. The new sigmoid equation corrects lower CT estimates while producing nearly identical estimates to the original quadratic equation at higher CT. The demonstrated accuracy of ECTemp™ encourages future research to explore the algorithm’s potential as a non-invasive means of tracking CT circadian rhythms.

Physical fitness and thermoregulatory reactions in a cold environment in men

1988 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1984-1989 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Bittel ◽  
C. Nonotte-Varly ◽  
G. H. Livecchi-Gonnot ◽  
G. L. Savourey ◽  
A. M. Hanniquet
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Metabolic Heat Production ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Fitness Level ◽  
Metabolic Heat ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Thermoregulatory Reactions

The relationship between the physical fitness level (maximal O2 consumption, VO2max) and thermoregulatory reactions was studied in 17 adult males submitted to an acute cold exposure. Standard cold tests were performed in nude subjects, lying for 2 h in a climatic chamber at three ambient air temperatures (10, 5, and 1 degrees C). The level of physical fitness conditioned the intensity of thermoregulatory reactions to cold. For all subjects, there was a direct relationship between physical fitness and 1) metabolic heat production, 2) level of mean skin temperature (Tsk), 3) level of skin conductance, and 4) level of Tsk at the onset of shivering. The predominance of thermogenic or insulative reactions depended on the intensity of the cold stress: insulative reactions were preferential at 10 degrees C, or even at 5 degrees C, whereas colder ambient temperature (1 degree C) triggered metabolic heat production abilities, which were closely related to the subject's physical fitness level. Fit subjects have more efficient thermoregulatory abilities against cold stress than unfit subjects, certainly because of an improved sensitivity of the thermoregulatory system.

scholarly journals Long-term trajectory of cognitive performance in people with bipolar disorder and controls: 6-year longitudinal study

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timea Sparding ◽  
Erik Joas ◽  
Caitlin Clements ◽  
Carl M. Sellgren ◽  
Erik Pålsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Interaction

Background Cross-sectional studies have found impaired cognitive functioning in patients with bipolar disorder, but long-term longitudinal studies are scarce. Aims The aims of this study were to examine the 6-year longitudinal course of cognitive functioning in patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Subsets of patients were examined to investigate possible differences in cognitive trajectories. Method Patients with bipolar I disorder (n = 44) or bipolar II disorder (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 59) were tested with a comprehensive cognitive test battery at baseline and retested after 6 years. We conducted repeated measures ANCOVAs with group as a between-subject factor and tested the significance of group and time interaction. Results By and large, the change in cognitive functioning between baseline and follow-up did not differ significantly between participants with bipolar disorder and healthy controls. Comparing subsets of patients, for example those with bipolar I and II disorder and those with and without manic episodes during follow-up, did not reveal subgroups more vulnerable to cognitive decline. Conclusions Cognitive performance remained stable in patients with bipolar disorder over a 6-year period and evolved similarly to healthy controls. These findings argue against the notion of a general progressive decline in cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder.

Research … How Fun Is That? Interesting Questions Relative to the Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
North American Society ◽  
National Meeting ◽  
The North ◽  
American Society

In developing a senior lecture for the 2014 national meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, I had the opportunity to reflect upon a career of research and to focus on three interesting questions that my colleagues and I have attempted to address. These questions have led to several studies that all revolve around identifying ways to increase the effects of exercise on cognitive performance. In particular, the questions examine the possibility of increasing effects by focusing on particular populations (e.g., older adults, children) and by increasing our understanding of dose-response relationships between exercise parameters (e.g., intensity, duration) and cognitive outcomes. I present empirical evidence relative to each of these questions and provide directions for future research on physical activity and cognitive functioning.

scholarly journals Efficacy of tablet-based applications for mental training in preserving cognitive abilities of older adults

ABOUTOPEN ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-30
Author(s):  
Marcello Maria Turconi ◽  
Filomena Vella ◽  
Francesco Mosetti
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Mental Training ◽  
Versus Group ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Background and aims: Nonpathological, age-related cognitive decline is among the most feared consequences of aging. Evidence suggests that the continued use of mental abilities can slow down cognitive decline. We developed two tablet-based applications for the mental training (ElasticaMente) and social interaction/entertainment (iNonni) of older adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate their effect on cognitive performance.Materials and methods: This was an exploratory study of 8 months duration. Sixty healthy residents of a senior community center aged ≥60 years were recruited and divided into three groups: participants in Groups 1 and 2 received a tablet with ElasticaMente and iNonni (Group 1, n = 20) or with iNonni only (Group 2, n = 20); participants in Group 3 (n = 20) did not receive any tablet. Participants in Groups 1 and 2 were instructed to use the applications three times a week (each session ~45 minutes). Cognitive performance was assessed at baseline (T0) and after 8 months (T1) using a battery of six validated tests.Results: In Group 1, cognitive test scores remained consistently stable from T0 to T1, suggesting maintenance of cognitive abilities. In contrast, in Groups 2 and 3, scores worsened from T0 to T1 across all tests. Comparison of the changes from T0 to T1 revealed statistical significance for Group 1 versus Group 3, but not for Group 1 versus Group 2 and Group 2 versus Group 3.Conclusion: The 8 months use of the applications ElasticaMente and iNonni was associated with a significant benefit in terms of preserved cognitive performance compared with no tablet-based activity. The potential contribution of ElasticaMente to the attenuation of cognitive decline should be further investigated.

scholarly journals Linking atmospheric pollution to cryospheric change in the Third Pole region: current progress and future prospects

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 796-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shichang Kang ◽  
Qianggong Zhang ◽  
Yun Qian ◽  
Zhenming Ji ◽  
Chaoliu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pollution ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Atmospheric Pollutants ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
The Third

ABSTRACTThe Tibetan Plateau and its surroundings are known as the Third Pole (TP). This region is noted for its high rates of glacier melt and the associated hydrological shifts that affect water supplies in Asia. Atmospheric pollutants contribute to climatic and cryospheric changes through their effects on solar radiation and the albedos of snow and ice surfaces; moreover, the behavior and fates within the cryosphere and environmental impacts of environmental pollutants are topics of increasing concern. In this review, we introduce a coordinated monitoring and research framework and network to link atmospheric pollution and cryospheric changes (APCC) within the TP region. We then provide an up-to-date summary of progress and achievements related to the APCC research framework, including aspects of atmospheric pollution's composition and concentration, spatial and temporal variations, trans-boundary transport pathways and mechanisms, and effects on the warming of atmosphere and changing in Indian monsoon, as well as melting of glacier and snow cover. We highlight that exogenous air pollutants can enter into the TP’s environments and cause great impacts on regional climatic and environmental changes. At last, we propose future research priorities and map out an extended program at the global scale. The ongoing monitoring activities and research facilitate comprehensive studies of atmosphere–cryosphere interactions, represent one of China's key research expeditions to the TP and the polar regions and contribute to the global perspective of earth system science.

scholarly journals Linking ecology and cognition: does ecological specialisation predict cognitive test performance?

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Henke-von der Malsburg ◽  
Peter M. Kappeler ◽  
Claudia Fichtel
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Ecological Processes

AbstractVariation in cognitive abilities is thought to be linked to variation in brain size, which varies across species with either social factors (Social Intelligence Hypothesis) or ecological challenges (Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis). However, the nature of the ecological processes invoked by the Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis, like adaptations to certain habitat characteristics or dietary requirements, remains relatively poorly known. Here, we review comparative studies that experimentally investigated interspecific variation in cognitive performance in relation to a species’ degree of ecological specialisation. Overall, the relevant literature was biased towards studies of mammals and birds as well as studies focusing on ecological challenges related to diet. We separated ecological challenges into those related to searching for food, accessing a food item and memorising food locations. We found interspecific variation in cognitive performance that can be explained by adaptations to different foraging styles. Species-specific adaptations to certain ecological conditions, like food patch distribution, characteristics of food items or seasonality also broadly predicted variation in cognitive abilities. A species’ innovative problem-solving and spatial processing ability, for example, could be explained by its use of specific foraging techniques or search strategies, respectively. Further, habitat generalists were more likely to outperform habitat specialists. Hence, we found evidence that ecological adaptations and cognitive performance are linked and that the classification concept of ecological specialisation can explain variation in cognitive performance only with regard to habitat, but not dietary specialisation.

0097 Effects of Experimental Sleep Disruption on Morning Cognitive Performance and Alertness

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A39-A39
Author(s):  
E D Chinoy ◽  
D A Hirsch ◽  
J A Cuellar ◽  
M N Snider ◽  
T L Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Vigilance Task ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Sleep Disruption ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Percent Correct ◽  
Time In Bed ◽  
Subjective Alertness

Abstract Introduction While sleep duration is known to affect next-day cognitive performance and alertness, largely in a dose-response manner, the effects of disrupted sleep (where one is awoken multiple times overnight, common in military settings) are much less understood. Therefore, we examined the effects of experimentally disrupted sleep on morning cognitive performance and alertness. Methods We tested 34 healthy participants (12 men, 22 women, 28.1±3.9 years; mean±SD) who slept for 8-hours time-in-bed on three consecutive nights with polysomnography in a controlled sleep lab. The final two nights were randomized and counterbalanced between an undisrupted and a disrupted sleep condition. On the disrupted sleep night, participants were awoken by auditory tones for a 5–10 min period every hour. The following morning, participants completed a cognitive test battery that included Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), 10-min psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), addition calculations (ADD), go/no-go (GNG), task switching (TS), and working memory (WM). Mixed effects models were used to test factors: condition (undisrupted vs. disrupted), condition-order, and their interaction. Results Significant (p<0.05) effects of condition (i.e., disrupted sleep caused worse performance) were found for PVT reaction time (RT), GNG RT, TS RT, WM percent correct, and KSS alertness ratings. Condition was not significant for number or percent correct on ADD, GNG, and TS. Condition-order was significant for TS percent correct, and significant interactions were found for ADD number correct and TS RT. Conclusion One night of sleep disruption caused significant negative effects on morning subjective alertness and on several, but not all, cognitive performance domains tested, including RT and WM. Condition-order and interaction effects were also found, indicating that some performance outcomes were impacted by possible learning effects over the study. Sleep disruption factors should be taken into account, especially in operational settings like the military where environmental factors (e.g., noise) disrupt sleeping conditions. Support Office of Naval Research, Code 34

Utility of Modulated Fluorescence in Measuring Photosynthetic Activity of Antarctic Plants: Field and Laboratory Studies

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hovenden ◽  
RD Seppelt
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Continuous Light ◽  
Fluorescence Analysis ◽  
Pulse Amplitude ◽  
Gas Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Terrestrial Vegetation ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Modulated Fluorescence

Antarctic terrestrial plants face severe physiological stress conditions daily. In winter there is extreme cold and darkness. During summer there is continuous light for some months and plant surface temperatures may fluctuate through more than 50�C diurnally. Conditions are almost uniformly desiccative, except during spring when snow melt saturates thalli and plants may be completely inundated. The study of photosynthesis in these conditions is fundamental to a proper understanding of plant persistence, productivity and growth in polar regions. Lichens dominate the terrestrial vegetation of Antarctica and are therefore of great interest. Lichen photosynthesis has been shown to be dependent upon thallus water content and temperature as well as the irradiance incident on the thallus. Conventional infrared gas analysis (IRGA) techniques have been used most widely to study lichen photosynthesis in both the field and laboratory. Recent progress in the development of pulse amplitude modulated fluorescence systems has allowed the investigation of chlorophyll fluorescence in the field under naturally illuminated conditions. This paper highlights the utility of modulated fluorescence systems for the study of antarctic lichen photosynthesis, relates fluorescence results to those obtained by IRGA techniques, identifies problems inherent in fluorescence analysis of lichens and discusses possible areas of future research.

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