Investigation of breathing patterns and their effect on physiology and cold tolerance in the Haenyeo divers of Korea
Abstract
Abstract The physiological capacity of the human body can be expanded through training and behavioral adaptations. Frequently, human limitations constrain dive length, even as autonomous diving support technology improves. These limitations include effects of gas exchange on cognitive function, avoidance of decompression sickness, and thermal concerns affecting physical performance. Traditional breath-hold divers, who have been diving for thousands of years, can offer lessons in circumventing the constraints of normal human performance. Previous researching the Bajau Sea Nomads of southeast Asia has identified a pharmacologically replicable evolutionary adaptation that increases hypoxia tolerance. However, there has been little investigation in this and other diving populations of behavioral approaches to prolonging dive time and their effect on physiology. Two traditional diving populations, occupying drastically different environments yet sharing considerable behavioral overlap, are the haenyeo, a group of exclusively female breath-hold divers in Korea, and the traditional divers of Tonga. We propose to investigate the patterns and physiological outcomes of breathing techniques in thesepopulations as a supplement to an existing investigation of their genetics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 08, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412489
Entities
People
- Melissa Ilardo
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Utah