Sleep and Activity Patterns at South Pole Station

The Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Reading Behavior

“…Confinements are rarely experienced in situations such as imprisonment, Antarctic camps, and space trips. Consistent with studies examining the effect of confinement on reading habits [ 10 - 12 ], all reading types increased among the majority while some decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Previous reports showed increased reading time [ 10 - 12 ] during confinement, including imprisonment, the South Pole, and airspace trips.…”

“…Consistent with studies examining the effect of confinement on reading habits [ 10 - 12 ], all reading types increased among the majority while some decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Previous reports showed increased reading time [ 10 - 12 ] during confinement, including imprisonment, the South Pole, and airspace trips. Tamilmani (2014) explained that books are the voices of people living in confinement, especially in quiet environments [ 34 ].…”

“…Accordingly, people are recommended to fulfill free time during confinement by embracing rewarding hobbies and enjoyable activities, such as reading. Additionally, strategies should be implemented to encourage people to read during long-term confinement for self-development and diverting confinement-induced stress [ 10 - 12 ]. Alternatively, the advantages of reading extend beyond leisure and psychological benefits.…”

Sleep under extreme environments: Effects of heat and cold exposure, altitude, hyperbaric pressure and microgravity in space

“…REM sleep also decreased. The changes observed were attributed to altitude as the winterers were exposed to outside cold for only 1 h daily [34]. Halley Station (75°35′23″S; 26°25′28″W) was first built by the British Antarctic Survey in 1955 on the Brunt Ice Shelf, Coats Land, at approximately 100 m above sea level.…”

Sleep and Breathing at High Altitude

“…[5][6][7] At the South Pole, barometric pressure is reduced both because of the elevation of the terrain and the effect of terrestrial spin. Major sleep disruption was noted on electroencephalographic studies (EEG) and a marked increase in slow wave sleep (stages 3 and 4) was seen.…”