RESEARCH:
Habituation of the Cold Shock Response May Include a Significant Perceptual Component
UNIVERSITY OR ORGANISATION: University of Portsmouth
SUBJECT: Cold Water
TYPE: Experimental Study
DATE: 2014
Accidental immersion in cold water is a risk factor for many occupations. Habituation to cold-water immersion (CWI) is one practical means of reducing the cold shock response (CSR) on immersion. This study investigated whether repeated thermoneutral water immersion (TWI) induced a perceptual habituation (i.e., could lessen perceived threat and anxiety) and consequently reduce the CSR on subsequent CWI.
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
AUTHORS
Martin J. Barwood
Jo Corbett
Christopher
R. D. Wagstaff
JOURNAL / PUBLICATION
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
RESPONDENTS
12 subjects
7-min immersions with heads out
8 men, 4 women
ACTIVITY
Cold water immersion
Thermoneutral water immersion
ENVIRONMENT
Pools
AGE
Adults
GENDER
Male
Female
ETHNICITY
N/A
