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Moderate cold exposure shortens evoked potential latencies in humans
K F Van Orden1, S T Ahlers, J R Thomas
1Environmental Medicine Department, Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, MD.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Moderate cold air exposure, even without changing core body temperature, speeds up central nervous system processing. This suggests increased arousal may occur during mild cold conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Environmental Physiology
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) functioning can be influenced by environmental factors.
- Moderate cold exposure's impact on neural processing requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of moderate cold air exposure on CNS functioning.
- To analyze changes in visual, auditory event-related potentials, and brainstem auditory-evoked responses.
Main Methods:
- Recorded evoked potentials in young male subjects during controlled exposures to 4°C and 22°C air.
- Exposures lasted 50 minutes, with rectal core temperature monitored.
Main Results:
- Evoked potentials showed significantly shorter latencies at 4°C compared to 22°C.
- No changes in rectal core temperature were observed during either exposure.
- Shorter latencies suggest faster CNS processing of sensory stimuli in cold conditions.
Conclusions:
- Moderate cold exposure enhances the speed of CNS processing.
- Findings support the hypothesis that non-hypothermic cold exposure can increase arousal.