[The effects of sustained military occupational activities on inhibitory control ability in low temperature environment].

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of sustained military occupational activities on inhibitory control ability in low temperature environment, which could provide a basis for accurate military physical training. Methods: Twenty healthy male young cadets (mean age: (23. 32±1. 62)y; height: (175. 34±4. 14)cm; body weight: (68. 19±3. 12)kg) were enrolled in this experiment. A number of military tasks last 36 hours were completed in the ordinary (16℃～23℃) and low(-3℃～-1℃) temperature environment, and the RR interval and core temperature were recorded. The stroop-word-color test and critical frequency test were performed before and after the activities. Results: Compared with rest, the heart rate, excess post-exercise oxygen consumption and training impulse were increased significantly (P＜0. 05) in military occupational activities, however there was no significant difference between the two activities (P＞0. 05). Compared with the rest, the average and maximum core temperature were increased significantly (P＜0. 05), however, compared with the ordinary temperature environment, the average core temperature in the low temperature environment was increased significantly (P＜0. 05), and there was no significant difference in the maximum core temperature (P＞0. 05). Compared with rest, the inhibitory control ability after the two activities was significantly lower (P＜0. 05), which was much worse in the low temperature environment than that in the ordinary temperature environment (P＜0. 05). In addition, compared with rest, both activities led to obvious mental fatigue (P＜0. 05), which was more serious in low temperature environment (P＜0. 05). Conclusion: The sustained military activities can impair the inhibitory control ability, and cause the mental fatigue, in addition, the stress of low temperature can aggravate the negative effects.