This study examined whether prolonged residence in the Antarctica had a significant impact on cognitive performance. Participants were members of the 24th and 25th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions. Cogn...This study examined whether prolonged residence in the Antarctica had a significant impact on cognitive performance. Participants were members of the 24th and 25th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions. Cognitive performance was measured with tests designed to evaluate short-term recognition, memory search and spatial cognition, measured four times： January, March, April, and June 2010. Age was controlled as a covariate, and data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The results revealed that subjects＇ short-term memory and recognition ability remained stable, while 82% of team members exhibited improved scores on a spatial cognitive ability test. These findings have important implications for furthering our understanding of cognitive functioning in extreme environments.展开更多
The harsh natural and social environments in Antarctica challenge the limit of physical and psychological adaptation. Psychological research on Antarctic expeditioners＇ winter-over life can enhance our understanding ...The harsh natural and social environments in Antarctica challenge the limit of physical and psychological adaptation. Psychological research on Antarctic expeditioners＇ winter-over life can enhance our understanding of how humans adapt to isolated, confined and extreme environments. In this qualitative study, nine people who worked at either the Great Wall station or Zhongshan Station were interviewed. Most of the problems related to adaptation in Antarctica could be summarized and categorized into four types： physical, emotional, interpersonal and task-related. Two main sets of factors which impact quality of work and life in Antarctica were identified. The first set refers to internal factors comprising personality, attitude, age and previous experience. The second set is external factors including natural environments as well as conditions of stations and key persons, especially the chef and station master. A theoretical framework of coping strategies including organizational and individual aspects was developed. Among the seven ways of coping, energy transferring such as taking part in sports entertainment or learning played the most important role. The results not only provide a strong theoretical base for future research of polar psychology, but also provide an empirical base for more applications on Antarctic expeditions, flight and space missions.展开更多
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities by Ministry of Educationthe Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration,SOA
文摘This study examined whether prolonged residence in the Antarctica had a significant impact on cognitive performance. Participants were members of the 24th and 25th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expeditions. Cognitive performance was measured with tests designed to evaluate short-term recognition, memory search and spatial cognition, measured four times： January, March, April, and June 2010. Age was controlled as a covariate, and data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The results revealed that subjects＇ short-term memory and recognition ability remained stable, while 82% of team members exhibited improved scores on a spatial cognitive ability test. These findings have important implications for furthering our understanding of cognitive functioning in extreme environments.
文摘The harsh natural and social environments in Antarctica challenge the limit of physical and psychological adaptation. Psychological research on Antarctic expeditioners＇ winter-over life can enhance our understanding of how humans adapt to isolated, confined and extreme environments. In this qualitative study, nine people who worked at either the Great Wall station or Zhongshan Station were interviewed. Most of the problems related to adaptation in Antarctica could be summarized and categorized into four types： physical, emotional, interpersonal and task-related. Two main sets of factors which impact quality of work and life in Antarctica were identified. The first set refers to internal factors comprising personality, attitude, age and previous experience. The second set is external factors including natural environments as well as conditions of stations and key persons, especially the chef and station master. A theoretical framework of coping strategies including organizational and individual aspects was developed. Among the seven ways of coping, energy transferring such as taking part in sports entertainment or learning played the most important role. The results not only provide a strong theoretical base for future research of polar psychology, but also provide an empirical base for more applications on Antarctic expeditions, flight and space missions.
