Extreme Environment Effects on Cognitive Functions: A Longitudinal Study in High Altitude in Antarctica

Abstract

This paper focuses on the impact of long-term Antarctic conditions on cognitive processes. Behavioral responses and event-related potentials were recorded during an auditory distraction task and an attention network paradigm. Participants were members of the over-wintering crew at Concordia Antarctic Research Station. Due to the reduced partial pressure of oxygen this environment caused moderate hypoxia. Beyond the hypoxia, the fluctuation of sunshine duration, isolation and confinement were the main stress factors of this environment. We compared 6 measurement periods completed during the campaign. Behavioral responses and N1/MMN (mismatch negativity), N1, N2, P3, RON (reorientation negativity) event-related potential components have been analyzed. Reaction time decreased in both tasks in response to repeated testing during the course of mission. The alerting effect increased, the inhibition effect decreased and the orienting effect did not change in the ANT task. Contrary to our expectations the N2, P3, RON components related to the attentional functions did not show any significant changes. Changes attributable to early stages of information processing were observed in the ANT task (N1 component) but not in the distraction task (N1/MMN). The reaction time decrements and the N1 amplitude reduction in ANT task could be attributed to sustained effect of practice. We conclude that the Antarctic conditions had no negative impacts on cognitive activity despite the presence of numerous stressors.

Psychological Hibernation in Antarctica

“…So far studies on cognitive performance investigations on Antarctica have been controversial. While no detectable cognitive deterioration was found in a study of a crew overwintering on Concordia ( Barkaszi et al, 2016 ), other researchers have shown that residence in Antarctica had a detrimental effect on cognition ( Reed et al, 2001 ).…”

Cognitive resilience after prolonged task performance: an ERP investigation

“…This interpretation is in line with the emerging view that the human cognitive system can be resilient in many ways. Despite significant chronic hypoxia, isolation and confinement, people may have preserved cognitive functions (Barkaszi et al 2016). Participants have shown intact executive functions even after being sleep deprived for two nights (Tucker et al 2010).…”

Coping E Padrões Biológicos De Sono Em Expedicionários Antárticos

“…Apesar das alterações do padrão de sono não terem sido associadas às alterações na estratégia de coping, na literatura há associação estabelecida a comprometimentos cognitivos e de humor (Barkaszi et al, 2016;Feuerecker et al, 2014;Tamura & Krüger, 2016). O fator humano pode ser causa de acidentes se o nível de vigília estiver reduzindo consideravelmente, impactando nas habilidades necessárias para a execução das tarefas, normalmente em situações monótonas em que há o emprego de ansiedade ou de motivação em excesso (Cunha e Conceição, 2013;Novacki, 2015), características encontradas no ambiente antártico (Chen et al, 2016;Zimmer et al, 2013).…”

“…Ao longo dos últimos 10 anos (2006 a 2017), foram publicados menos de 30 estudos especializados, conforme consulta às bases de dados Web of Science e SCOPUS. As publicações mais recentes focam em estresse e coping (Anton-Solanas, O'Neil, Morris & Dunbar, 2016;Barkaszi, Takács, Czigler & Balázs, 2016); aspectos relacionados ao sono e ao ciclo circadiano (Brockmann et al, 2017;Chen, Wu, Li, Zhang & Xu, 2016;Feuerecker et al, 2014;Morris, Pilcher, & Powell, 2017); e à adaptação ao ambiente polar (Jin, Touyama, Yamada, Yamazaki, & Benno, 2014;Najjar et al, 2014;Pattarini, Scarborough, Sombito, & Parazynski, 2016).…”

“…). Na Antártica não é incomum tais tarefas serem feitas a céu aberto, expondo os trabalhadores a intempéries ambientais como frio, vento e precipitações, além do pouso e da decolagem em embarcações nos mares, que não garantem a estabilidade da área.O estudo deBarkaszi et al (2016) descreve a redução do tempo de resposta em testes cognitivos em 13 expedicionários adultos que participaram de uma missão à Antártica. Porém, em geral, o controle quanto às capacidades mínimas necessárias para realizar as atividades aeronavais na Antártica é realizado entre os colegas, sem instrumentos de medida objetivos, mas observação subjetiva e autorrelatos.…”