Effects of cold on human information processing: application of a reaction time paradigm

Only a very few studies on the effects of cold on human information processing appear to exist. Therefore, the present experiment was designed to study the effects of the experimentally induced lowering of body core temperature on information processing, while applying a reaction time paradigm. Thirty healthy male volunteers performed a stimulus evaluation-response selection reaction time task after exposure to ambient temperatures of either 28 or 5 degrees C. A 0.5 degree C-decrease in body core temperature resulted in a significant increase in both reaction and movement time indicating a general deteriorating effect of lowering of body core temperature on information processing. Mean reaction times were 538 ms and 549 ms for the control and the cold group, respectively (p < .05). The respective mean movement times were 298 ms and 269 ms (p < .001). Speed of stimulus evaluation was not sensitive to decreases in body core temperature. However, response complexity and body core temperature showed a significant interaction in their effect on movement time (p < .05), indicating that lowering of body core temperature is more likely to affect response-related stages of central information processing rather than stimulus evaluation. Furthermore, movement time appeared to be more sensitive to cold-induced effects on information processing as compared to reaction time. Additional correlational analyses suggest that the observed effects can be considered as independent of changes in skin temperature and experienced levels of thermal discomfort. Taken together, the results indicate that lowering of body core temperature differentially affects various stages of information processing.