Prevention of Environment-Induced Decrements in Mood and Cognitive Performance

在南极洲居住期间，认知表现会随着居住地的延长而下降，情绪变化符合季节性变化。虽然这些变化暗示了对寒冷和昏暗光线的某些生理适应的心理反应，但将这两套过程联系起来的确切机制尚不清楚。这个项目有两个目标。第一个是确定长期暴露在寒冷的温度和/或昏暗的光线下，这两者都是高纬度环境中极地冬季的特征，是否与认知表现和情绪健康的显著变化有关。其具体目的是确定对寒冷的生理适应(反映在核心体温和甲状腺激素水平的测量上)和/或对昏暗光线的适应(反映在褪黑激素的产生的测量上)是否独立地或协同地与认知表现和情绪幸福感的下降有关。另一个目标是确定南极站(纬度90°S)的人员是否比麦克默多站(纬度77°51‘S)的人员更能适应寒冷和昏暗的光线，以及情绪和认知能力的下降。第二个目标是确定是否可以有效地防止或最大限度地减少情绪和认知能力的下降。该项目将涉及开发一个管理和信息基础设施，以整合关于高纬度环境造成的性能下降的原因和预防的研究活动。该项目将包括研究生级别的人类适应极地环境的培训。该项目将有助于更好地了解在南极和其他高纬度环境中影响行为和表现的特定环境条件和生理机制。

Cognitive performance degrades with residence in Antarctica and mood alteration fits a seasonal change during extended residence in Antarctica. Although these changes suggest psychological response to certain physiological adaptations to cold and dim light, the exact mechanism linking these two sets of processes are poorly understood. This project has two objectives. The first is to determine whether long-term exposure to cold temperatures and/or to dim light, both of which are characteristics of polar winters in high latitude environments, are associated with significant changes in cognitive performance and emotional well-being. The specific aim is to determine whether physiological adaptation to cold, reflected in measures of core body temperature and thyroid hormone levels, and/or adaptation to dim light, reflected in measures of melatonin production, are independently or synergistically associated with decrements in cognitive performance and emotional well- being. An additional goal is to determine whether personnel at South Pole Station (latitude 90o S) experience greater physiological adaptation to cold and dim light and decrements in mood and cognitive performance than personnel at McMurdo Station (Latitude 77o 51' S) The second objective is to determine whether decrements to mood and cognitive performance can be effectively prevented or minimized. The project will involve the development of a management and informational infrastructure for the integration of research activities on the etiology and prevention of environmentally induced performance decrements in high latitudes. The project will involve graduate level training in human adaptation to polar environments. This project will lead to an improved understanding of the specific environmental conditions and physiological mechanisms that affect behavior and performance in the Antarctic and other high latitude environments.