Human environmental test chamber

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The requested state-of-the-art environmental test chamber facilitates the launch of new research themes within Dr Ainslie's research - the examination of human physiology in controlled climatic extremes during rest, exercise and sleep. The proposed chamber provides a means to systematically alter temperature and/or the degree of hypoxia over a wide range, allowing the study of human adaptation and maladaptation to physiological stresses such as temperature and low oxygen. The requested chamber will allow for continuous exposures for up to two weeks in duration. Historically, field studies, particularly those of longitudinal design, are difficult to control because cold temperatures, dry air, high incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, inadequate food and fluid intake, exhaustion and resultant psychological stress typically encountered while hiking to, and living at the study location all modify human physiology. These problems make longitudinal studies at extremes of temperature of oxygen difficult; an easily accessible and controlled laboratory environment is necessary for any short and longer term controlled longitudinal study. Moreover, the proposed temperature controlled chamber will also be used as research sleep unit; the chamber will be fitted with a bed to permit these types of studies. There are no dedicated research-only sleep laboratories in Canada; the proposed equipment would certainly set a new Canadian standard for sleep research. This chamber will provide the means to explore the degree to which the endogenous circadian pacemaker contributes to the previously reported diurnal changes in key factors that regulate brain blood flow in humans. Meticulous control of chamber temperature and light with concomitant control of environment conditions will enable the study of the mechanisms that control circadian rhythm fluctuations in brain blood flow regulation. These mechanisms are of profound interest to basic physiologists and clinical scientists alike.