COLDEX-86. Event-Related Potentials after Prolonged Cold Water Immersion: Possible Evidence for Impairment of Cognitive Function with Minimal Lowering of Core Temperature

Abstract

Mild hypothermia may be associated with defects in mental performance, including changes in memory and reaction time. The P3 is an electrical response of the brain to unexpected stimuli, and the delay from stimulus to P3 occurrence (P3 latency) is related to reaction time. The P3 latency was measured in divers undergoing rewarming following extended exposure to water at 5 C and correlated with rectal temperature. There is a very significant lengthening of P3 latency related to rectal temperature in the ranges of 37 to 35 C, suggesting the possible existence of mental impairment even with minimal bodily cooling.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA234272

Entities

People

  • A. J. Dutka
  • D. J. Smith
  • E. T. Flynn
  • R. P. Weinberg
  • Thomas J. Doubt

Organizations

  • Naval Medical Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical Research
  • Body Temperature
  • Classification
  • Cold Water
  • Confidence Limits
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Hypothermia
  • Information Processing
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Monitoring
  • Navy
  • Reaction Time
  • Security
  • Standards

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Exercise and Sports Science.