This study characterizes the changes in corticospinal excitability that accompany basic cold stress via skin cooling that result in reduced skin or core temperature and shivering.
Cold stress is known to impair both fine and gross motor movement. Reductions in performance may have life threatening consequences in survival situations where maintenance of muscle control is necessary. Much of the effects cooling has on muscle performance is directly due to its effects on muscle tissue itself, whereas less is known about the effects on the central nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to characterize corticospinal excitability that accompanies basic cold stress via progressive skin cooling, resulting in reductions in skin (Tsk) or core (Tco) temperature and shivering.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
60-90 mins of cooling via a liquid perfused suit circulating \~4-10°C liquid.
211 Max Bell Centre, University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Change in Corticospinal Excitability
Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) as a percentage of the maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax) measured via MEG at the Biceps Brachii will serve as the indices of Corticospinal excitbaility
Time frame: at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes
Change in Spinal Excitability
Cervicomedullary Motor Evoked Potentials (CMEP) as a percentage of the maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax) measured via MEG at the Biceps Brachii will serve as the indices of spinal excitability
Time frame: at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes
Change in Skin Temperature
Mean skin temperature of 7 sites
Time frame: at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes
Change in Core Temperature
Esophageal temperature is the most accurate method representing the temperature of the heart.
Time frame: at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes
Change in Metabolic Heat Production
Metabolic heat production serves as an objective way to quantify shivering thermogenesis.
Time frame: at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes
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