Psychological strain: Examining the effect of hypoxic bedrest and confinement

Abstract The aim was to assess the effect of a 10-day exposure to the environmental stressors anticipated in future lunar habitats on indices of psychological strain. In addition to the reduced gravity of the Moon, future habitats on the Moon will likely maintain a hypobaric hypoxic environment. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physiology & behavior 2015-02, Vol.139, p.497-504
Main Authors: Stavrou, Nektarios A.M, McDonnell, Adam C, Eiken, Ola, Mekjavic, Igor B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Affect - physiology
Altitude Sickness - physiopathology
Altitude Sickness - psychology
Arterial Pressure
Bed Rest - psychology
Bedrest
Heart Rate
Humans
Hypoxia
Hypoxia - physiopathology
Hypoxia - psychology
Inactivity
Male
Mood
Motor Activity - physiology
Negative affect
Oxyhemoglobins - metabolism
Positive affect
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychiatry
Psychological strain
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract The aim was to assess the effect of a 10-day exposure to the environmental stressors anticipated in future lunar habitats on indices of psychological strain. In addition to the reduced gravity of the Moon, future habitats on the Moon will likely maintain a hypobaric hypoxic environment. The hypobaric environment will eliminate the need for long decompression profiles prior to each extra-vehicular activity. We investigated the indices of psychological strain during three 10-day conditions, designed to assess the separate and combined effects of inactivity/unloading and normobaric hypoxia on several physiological systems. Eleven male participants underwent three 10-day campaigns in a randomised manner: 1) normobaric normoxic bed rest (NBR), 2) normobaric hypoxic bed rest (HBR) and 3) normobaric hypoxic ambulatory confinement (HAMB). The most negative psychological profile appeared on day 10 of the HBR and HAMB (hypoxic) conditions. Concomitantly, a decrease in positive emotions was observed from baseline to day 10 of the HBR and NBR conditions. Thus, confinement in a hypoxic environment seems to exert a negative effect on an individual's psychological mood.
ISSN:0031-9384
1873-507X
1873-507X
DOI:10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.015