Palinkas Lawrence A, Reedy Kathleen R, Shepanek Marc, Smith Mark, Anghel Mihai, Steel Gary D, Reeves Dennis, Case H Samuel, Do Nhan Van, Reed H Lester
School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles CA, 90089-0411, USA.
Physiol Behav. 2007 Dec 5;92(5):790-9. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.06.008. Epub 2007 Jun 18.
We examined the physiological and psychological status of men and women who spent the summer (n=100) and/or winter (n=85) seasons in Antarctica at McMurdo (latitude 78.48 S, elevation 12 m) and South Pole (latitude 90 S, elevation 3880 m) stations to determine whether there were any significant differences by severity of the stations' physical environment. Physiological measures (body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate, tympanic temperature), serum measures of thyroid hormones, cortisol, and lipids and plasma catecholamines were obtained at predeployment (Sep-Oct) and the beginning of the summer (November) and winter (Mar-Apr) seasons. Cognitive performance and mood were assessed using the Automatic Neuropsychological Assessment Metric - Isolated and Confined Environments (ANAM-ICE), a computerized test battery. South Pole residents had a lower body mass index (p<0.05) and body temperature (p<0.01) and higher levels of plasma norepinephrine (p<0.05) in summer and winter than McMurdo residents. Upon deployment from the United States and during the summer, South Pole residents experienced significantly higher thyroid hormone values (free and total T(3) and T(4)) (p<0.01) than McMurdo residents; in summer they also experienced lower levels of triglycerides (p<0.01) cortisol (p<0.05) and LDL (p<0.05). In winter, South Pole residents also experienced a 39% decrease in serum TSH compared with a 31.9% increase in McMurdo (p<0.05). South Pole residents also were significantly more accurate (p<0.05) and efficient (p<0.01) in performance of complex cognitive tasks in summer and winter. Higher thyroid hormone levels, combined with lower BMI and body temperature, may reflect increased metabolic and physiological responses to colder temperatures and/or higher altitude at South Pole with no apparent adverse effect on mood and cognition.
我们研究了在麦克默多站（南纬78.48度，海拔12米）和南极点站（南纬90度，海拔3880米）度过夏季（n = 100）和/或冬季（n = 85）的男性和女性的生理和心理状况，以确定不同站点物理环境的严酷程度是否会导致显著差异。在部署前（9 - 10月）以及夏季（11月）和冬季（3 - 4月）开始时，获取了生理指标（体重指数、血压、心率、鼓膜温度）、甲状腺激素、皮质醇、脂质的血清指标以及血浆儿茶酚胺。使用自动神经心理评估指标 - 隔离和封闭环境版（ANAM - ICE，一种计算机化测试组）评估认知表现和情绪。与麦克默多站的居民相比，南极点站的居民在夏季和冬季的体重指数更低（p < 0.05）、体温更低（p < 0.01），血浆去甲肾上腺素水平更高（p < 0.05）。从美国出发时以及夏季期间，南极点站的居民甲状腺激素值（游离和总T(3)及T(4)）显著高于麦克默多站的居民（p < 0.01）；夏季时，他们的甘油三酯水平也更低（p < 0.01）、皮质醇水平更低（p < 0.05）以及低密度脂蛋白水平更低（p < 0.05）。在冬季，与麦克默多站居民血清促甲状腺激素增加31.9%相比，南极点站居民的血清促甲状腺激素下降了39%（p < 0.05）。南极点站的居民在夏季和冬季执行复杂认知任务时也显著更准确（p < 0.05）且更高效（p < 0.01）。较高的甲状腺激素水平，再加上较低的体重指数和体温，可能反映出南极点对更低温度和/或更高海拔的代谢和生理反应增强，且对情绪和认知没有明显的不良影响。
