The Effects Of 53 Hours Of Sleep Deprivation On Thermal Sensation During Acute Cold Exposure.

Abstract

The relation between cold perception (i.e., an individuals ability to sense and scale thermal discomfort) and acute cold exposure (ACE) is an area that has considerable practical application to those individual's who may work in environmental extremes. Furthermore, it is well known that sleep deprivation (SDEP) decreases cognitive function which may influence individuals' perception of cold or thermal sensation (TS). PURPOSE: To determine the effects of 53-h of SDEP on thermal sensation using the Gagge scale [TS: Gagge Scale (1967)] and Modified Gage Scale [(TSM: Glickman-Weiss et al. 1994)] in apparently healthy Caucasian males during 3 separate stages of ACE. METHODS: Eight males (22.8 ± 1.7 y) underwent 2 conditions [control (CON) or SDEP] during which they were exposed to cold air (10°C) for 120 min, once per day, for 3 consecutive days (or 3 stages). TS, TSM and rectal temperature (Tre) was collected at baseline and 5 min, 15 min and every 15 min thereafter for the duration of the trial. RESULTS: Two-way, repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant condition by time interactions for Tre, (p = 0.02), TS (p = 0.05) and TSM (p = 0.03). Tre, was greater (p <0.05) in the SDEP vs. the CON condition during min 0, 5, 15 then not different thereafter during Stage 2 of ACE. TS and TSM were greater (individuals sensed and scaled that they were colder) in the SDEP vs. the CON condition at 75 and 90 min for TS and 45 and 75 min for TSM (then not different thereafter) during Stage 2 of ACE. CONCLUSION: From these data it appears that SDEP alters the perception of one's environment as participants, when sleep deprived, exhibited a greater Tre but sensed and scaled that they were colder.