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Patrician A, Anholm JD, Ainslie PN. A narrative review of periodic breathing during sleep at high altitude: From acclimatizing lowlanders to adapted highlanders. J Physiol 2024. [PMID: 38534039 DOI: 10.1113/jp285427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Periodic breathing during sleep at high altitude is almost universal among sojourners. Here, in the context of acclimatization and adaptation, we provide a contemporary review on periodic breathing at high altitude, and explore whether this is an adaptive or maladaptive process. The mechanism(s), prevalence and role of periodic breathing in acclimatized lowlanders at high altitude are contrasted with the available data from adapted indigenous populations (e.g. Andean and Tibetan highlanders). It is concluded that (1) periodic breathing persists with acclimatization in lowlanders and the severity is proportional to sleeping altitude; (2) periodic breathing does not seem to coalesce with poor sleep quality such that, with acclimatization, there appears to be a lengthening of cycle length and minimal impact on the average sleeping oxygen saturation; and (3) high altitude adapted highlanders appear to demonstrate a blunting of periodic breathing, compared to lowlanders, comprising a feature that withstands the negative influences of chronic mountain sickness. These observations indicate that periodic breathing persists with high altitude acclimatization with no obvious negative consequences; however, periodic breathing is attenuated with high altitude adaptation and therefore potentially reflects an adaptive trait to this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Patrician
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia - Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - James D Anholm
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Philip N Ainslie
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia - Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Bonato G, Goodman S, Tjh L. Physiological and performance effects of live high train low altitude training for elite endurance athletes: A narrative review. Curr Res Physiol 2023; 6:100113. [PMID: 38107789 PMCID: PMC10724230 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2023.100113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Altitude training has become an important training application for athletes due its potential for altering physiology and enhancing performance. This practice is commonly used by athletes, with a popular choice being the live high - train low approach. This model recommends that athletes live at high altitude (1250-3000 m), but train at low altitude or sea-level (0-1200 m). Exposure to altitude often leads to hypoxic stress and in turn stimulates changes in total haemoglobin mass, erythropoietin, and soluble transferrin receptors, which alter further underlying physiology. Through enhanced physiology, improved exercise performance may arise through enhancement of the oxygen transport system which is important for endurance events. Previous investigations into the effects of altitude training on exercise performance have been completed in a range of contexts, including running, cycling, swimming, and triathlon. Often following a LHTL altitude intervention, athletes realise improvements in maximal oxygen consumption capacity, time trial performance and peak power outputs. Although heterogeneity exists among LHTL methodologies, i.e., exposure durations and altitude ranges, we synthesised this data into kilometre hours, and found that the most common hypoxic doses used in LHTL interventions ranged from ∼578-687 km h. As this narrative review demonstrates, there are potential advantages to using altitude training to enhance physiology and improve performance for endurance athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bonato
- Exercise and Sports Science, School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, Armidale, 2350, Australia
- College of Arts, Society and Education, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811, Australia
| | - S.P.J Goodman
- Exercise and Sports Science, School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, Armidale, 2350, Australia
| | - Lathlean Tjh
- Exercise and Sports Science, School of Science and Technology, The University of New England, Armidale, 2350, Australia
- The Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5000, Australia
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Adelaide, 5000, Australia
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Van Puyvelde M, Gijbels D, Van Caelenberg T, Smith N, Bessone L, Buckle-Charlesworth S, Pattyn N. Living on the edge: How to prepare for it? FRONTIERS IN NEUROERGONOMICS 2022; 3:1007774. [PMID: 38235444 PMCID: PMC10790891 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2022.1007774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments such as found at Antarctic, Arctic, and other remote research stations are considered space-analogs to study the long duration isolation aspects of operational space mission conditions. Methods We interviewed 24 sojourners that participated in different short/long duration missions in an Antarctic (Concordia, Halley VI, Rothera, Neumayer II) or non-Antarctic (e.g., MDRS, HI-SEAS) station or in polar treks, offering a unique insight based on first-hand information on the nature of demands by ICE-personnel at multiple levels of functioning. We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis to explore how sojourners were trained, prepared, how they experienced the ICE-impact in function of varieties in environment, provided trainings, station-culture, and type of mission. Results The ICE-environment shapes the impact of organizational, interpersonal, and individual working- and living systems, thus influencing the ICE-sojourners' functioning. Moreover, more specific training for operating in these settings would be beneficial. The identified pillars such as sensory deprivation, sleep, fatigue, group dynamics, displacement of negative emotions, gender-issues along with coping strategies such as positivity, salutogenic effects, job dedication and collectivistic thinking confirm previous literature. However, in this work, we applied a systemic perspective, assembling the multiple levels of functioning in ICE-environments. Discussion A systemic approach could serve as a guide to develop future preparatory ICE-training programs, including all the involved parties of the crew system (e.g., family, on-ground crew) with attention for the impact of organization- and station-related subcultures and the risk of unawareness about the impact of poor sleep, fatigue, and isolation on operational safety that may occur on location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Van Puyvelde
- Vital Signs and PERformance Monitoring (VIPER) Research Unit, Life Sciences (LIFE) Department, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Brain, Body and Cognition (BBC), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Clinical and Lifespan Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Daisy Gijbels
- Vital Signs and PERformance Monitoring (VIPER) Research Unit, Life Sciences (LIFE) Department, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Van Caelenberg
- Vital Signs and PERformance Monitoring (VIPER) Research Unit, Life Sciences (LIFE) Department, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Human Behavior and Performance Training, European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nathan Smith
- Protective Security and Resilience Centre, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Loredana Bessone
- Human Behavior and Performance Training, European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany
| | - Susan Buckle-Charlesworth
- Human Behavior and Performance Training, European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany
- Oxford Human Performance, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie Pattyn
- Vital Signs and PERformance Monitoring (VIPER) Research Unit, Life Sciences (LIFE) Department, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Human Physiology and Human Performance Lab (MFYS-BLITS), Human Physiology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Van Cutsem J, Pattyn N. Primum non nocere; It's time to consider altitude training as the medical intervention it actually is! Front Psychol 2022; 13:1028294. [PMID: 36582343 PMCID: PMC9792969 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1028294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep is one of the most important aspects of recovery, and is known to be severely affected by hypoxia. The present position paper focuses on sleep as a strong moderator of the altitude training-response. Indeed, the response to altitude training is highly variable, it is not a fixed and classifiable trait, rather it is a state that is determined by multiple factors (e.g., iron status, altitude dose, pre-intervention hemoglobin mass, training load, and recovery). We present an overview of evidence showing that sleep, and more specifically the prolonged negative impact of altitude on the nocturnal breathing pattern, affecting mainly deep sleep and thus the core of physiological recovery during sleep, could play an important role in intra- and interindividual variability in the altitude training-associated responses in professional and recreational athletes. We conclude our paper with a set of suggested recommendations to customize the application of altitude training to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of each athlete (i.e., primum non nocere). Several factors have been identified (e.g., sex, polymorphisms in the TASK2/KCNK5, NOTCH4 and CAT genes and pre-term birth) to predict individual vulnerabilities to hypoxia-related sleep-disordered breathing. Currently, polysomnography should be the first choice to evaluate an individual's predisposition to a decrease in deep sleep related to hypoxia. Further interventions, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, might alleviate the effects of nocturnal hypoxia in those athletes that show most vulnerable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Van Cutsem
- Vital Signs and Performance Monitoring (VIPER) Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium,Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium,*Correspondence: Jeroen Van Cutsem,
| | - Nathalie Pattyn
- Vital Signs and Performance Monitoring (VIPER) Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium,Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Usaj A, Kapus J, Štrumbelj B, Debevec T, Vodičar J. Effects of Moderate Altitude Training Combined with Moderate or High-altitude Residence. Int J Sports Med 2022; 43:1129-1136. [PMID: 35926513 DOI: 10.1055/a-1885-4053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to identify potential physiological and performance differences of trained cross-country skiers (V˙o2max=60±4 ml ∙ kg-1 ∙ min-1) following two, 3-week long altitude modalities: 1) training at moderate altitudes (600-1700 m) and living at 1500 m (LMTM;N=8); and 2) training at moderate altitudes (600-1700 m) and living at 1500 m with additional nocturnal normobaric hypoxic exposures (FiO2 =0.17;LHTM; N=8). All participants conducted the same training throughout the altitude training phase and underwent maximal roller ski trials and submaximal cyclo-ergometery before, during and one week after the training camps. No exercise performance or hematological differences were observed between the two modalities. The average roller ski velocities were increased one week after the training camps following both LMTM (p=0.03) and LHTM (p=0.04) with no difference between the two (p=0.68). During the submaximal test, LMTM increased the Tissue Oxygenation Index (11.5±6.5 to 1.0±8.5%; p=0.04), decreased the total hemoglobin concentration (15.1±6.5 to 1.7±12.9 a.u.;p=0.02), and increased blood pH (7.36±0.03 to 7.39±0.03;p=0.03). On the other hand, LHTM augmented minute ventilation (76±14 to 88±10 l·min-1;p=0.04) and systemic blood oxygen saturation by 2±1%; (p=0.02) with no such differences observed following the LMTM. Collectively, despite minor physiological differences observed between the two tested altitude training modalities both induced comparable exercise performance modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Usaj
- Laboratory of Biodynamics, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jernej Kapus
- Laboratory of Biodynamics, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boro Štrumbelj
- Laboratory of Biodynamics, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tadej Debevec
- Laboratory of Biodynamics, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janez Vodičar
- Institute of Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Van Cutsem J, Pattyn N, Mairesse O, Delwiche B, Fernandez Tellez H, Van Puyvelde M, Lacroix E, McDonnell AC, Eiken O, Mekjavic IB. Adult Female Sleep During Hypoxic Bed Rest. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:852741. [PMID: 35620666 PMCID: PMC9127600 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.852741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Hypobaric hypoxic habitats are currently being touted as a potential solution to minimise decompression procedures in preparation for extra vehicular activities during future space missions. Since astronauts will live in hypoxic environments for the duration of such missions, the present study sought to elucidate the separate and combined effects of inactivity [simulated with the experimental bed rest (BR) model] and hypoxia on sleep characteristics in women. Methods Twelve women (Age = 27 ± 3 year) took part in three 10-day interventions, in a repeated measures cross-over counterbalanced design: (1) normobaric normoxic BR (NBR), (2) normobaric hypoxic BR (HBR; simulated altitude of 4,000 m), and (3) normobaric hypoxic ambulatory (HAMB; 4,000 m) confinement, during which sleep was assessed on night 1 and night 10 with polysomnography. In addition, one baseline sleep assessment was performed. This baseline assessment, although lacking a confinement aspect, was included statistically as a fourth comparison (i.e., pseudo normobaric normoxic ambulatory; pNAMB) in the present study. Results Hypoxia decreased sleep efficiency (p = 0.019), increased N1% sleep (p = 0.030), decreased N3 sleep duration (p = 0.003), and increased apnea hypopnea index (p < 0.001). BR impaired sleep maintenance, efficiency, and architecture [e.g., N2% sleep increased (p = 0.033)]. Specifically, for N3% sleep, the effects of partial pressure of oxygen and activity interacted. Hypoxia decreased N3% sleep both when active (pNAMB vs HAMB; p < 0.001) and inactive (NBR vs HBR; p = 0.021), however, this decrease was attenuated in the inactive state (–3.8%) compared to the active state (–10.2%). Conclusion A 10-day exposure to hypoxia and BR negatively impacted sleep on multiple levels as in macrostructure, microstructure and respiratory functioning. Interestingly, hypoxia appeared to have less adverse effects on sleep macrostructure while the participants were inactive (bed ridden) compared to when ambulatory. Data were missing to some extent (i.e., 20.8%). Therefore, multiple imputation was used, and our results should be considered as exploratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Van Cutsem
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Jeroen Van Cutsem, , orcid.org/0000-0001-6122-7629
| | - Nathalie Pattyn
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Mairesse
- Sleep Laboratory and Unit for Chronobiology U78, Brugmann University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bérénice Delwiche
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Brain, Body and Cognition, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Martine Van Puyvelde
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
- Experimental and Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Clinical & Lifespan Psychology, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emilie Lacroix
- VIPER Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adam C. McDonnell
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ola Eiken
- Department of Environmental Physiology, Swedish Aerospace Physiology centre, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Igor B. Mekjavic
- Department of Automation, Biocybernetics and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Staab JE, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Andrew SP, Beidleman BA. Impact of 2 days of staging at 2500-4300 m on sleep quality and quantity following subsequent exposure to 4300 m. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e15063. [PMID: 34713967 PMCID: PMC8554773 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of 2 days of staging at 2500-4300 m on sleep quality and quantity following subsequent exposure to 4300 m was determined. Forty-eight unacclimatized men and women were randomly assigned to stage for 2 days at one of four altitudes (2500, 3000, 3500, or 4300 m) prior to assessment on the summit of Pikes Peak (4300 m) for 2 days. Volunteers slept for one night at sea level (SL), two nights at respective staging altitudes, and two nights at Pikes Peak. Each wore a pulse oximeter to measure sleep arterial oxygen saturation (sSpO2 , %) and number of desaturations (DeSHr, events/hr) and a wrist motion detector to estimate sleep awakenings (Awak, awakes/hr) and sleep efficiency (Eff, %). Acute mountain sickness (AMS) was assessed using the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire and daytime SpO2 was assessed after AMS measurements. The mean of all variables for both staging days (STG) and Pikes Peak days (PP) was calculated. The sSpO2 and daytime SpO2 decreased (p < 0.05) from SL during STG in all groups in a dose-dependent manner. During STG, DeSHr were higher (p < 0.05), Eff was lower (p < 0.05), and AMS symptoms were higher (p < 0.05) in the 3500 and 4300 m groups compared to the 2500 and 3000 m groups while Awak did not differ (p > 0.05) between groups. At PP, the sSpO2 , DeSHr, Awak, and Eff were similar among all groups but the 2500 m group had greater AMS symptoms (p < 0.05) than the other groups. Two days of staging at 2500-4300 m induced a similar degree of sleep acclimatization during subsequent ascent to 4300 m but the 2500 m group was not protected against AMS at 4300 m.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet E. Staab
- Military Performance DivisionU.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental MedicineNatickMassachusettsUSA
| | - Stephen R. Muza
- Strategic Scientific Management OfficeU.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental MedicineNatickMassachusettsUSA
| | - Charles S. Fulco
- Thermal and Mountain Medicine DivisionU.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental MedicineNatickMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sean P. Andrew
- Thermal and Mountain Medicine DivisionU.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental MedicineNatickMassachusettsUSA
| | - Beth A. Beidleman
- Biophysics and Biomedical Modeling DivisionU.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental MedicineNatickMassachusettsUSA
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Zivi P, De Gennaro L, Ferlazzo F. Sleep in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme (ICE): A Review on the Different Factors Affecting Human Sleep in ICE. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:851. [PMID: 32848590 PMCID: PMC7433404 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently renewed focus on the human exploration of outer space has boosted the interest toward a variety of questions regarding health of astronauts and cosmonauts. Among the others, sleep has traditionally been considered a central issue. To extend the research chances, human sleep alterations have been investigated in several analog environments, called ICEs (Isolated, Confined, and Extreme). ICEs share different features with the spaceflight itself and have been implemented in natural facilities and artificial simulations. The current paper presents a systematic review of research findings on sleep disturbances in ICEs. We looked for evidence from studies run in polar settings (mostly Antarctica) during space missions, Head-Down Bed-Rest protocols, simulations, and in a few ICE-resembling settings such as caves and submarines. Even though research has shown that sleep can be widely affected in ICEs, mostly evidencing general and non-specific changes in REM and SWS sleep, results show a very blurred picture, often with contradictory findings. The variable coexistence of the many factors characterizing the ICE environments (such as isolation and confinement, microgravity, circadian disentrainment, hypoxia, noise levels, and radiations) does not provide a clear indication of what role is played by each factor per se or in association one with each other in determining the pattern observed, and how. Most importantly, a number of methodological limitations contribute immensely to the unclear pattern of results reported in the literature. Among them, small sample sizes, small effect sizes, and large variability among experimental conditions, protocols, and measurements make it difficult to draw hints about whether sleep alterations in ICEs do exist due to the specific environmental characteristics, and which of them plays a major role. More systematic and cross-settings research is needed to address the mechanisms underlying the sleep alterations in ICE environments and possibly develop appropriate countermeasures to be used during long-term space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fabio Ferlazzo
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Pattyn N, Van Puyvelde M, Fernandez-Tellez H, Roelands B, Mairesse O. From the midnight sun to the longest night: Sleep in Antarctica. Sleep Med Rev 2017; 37:159-172. [PMID: 28460798 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are the main health complaints from personnel deployed in Antarctica. The current paper presents a systematic review of research findings on sleep disturbances in Antarctica. The available sources were divided in three categories: results based on questionnaire surveys or sleep logs, studies using actigraphy, and data from polysomnography results. Other areas relevant to the issue were also examined. These included chronobiology, since the changes in photoperiod have been known to affect circadian rhythms, mood disturbances, exercise, sleep and hypoxia, countermeasure investigations in Antarctica, and other locations lacking a normal photoperiod. Based on the combination of our reviewed sources and data outside the field of sleep studies, or from other geographical locations, we defined hypotheses to be confirmed or infirmed, which allowed to summarize a research agenda. Despite the scarcity of sleep research on the Antarctic continent, the present review pinpointed some consistent changes in sleep during the Antarctic winter, the common denominators being a circadian phase delay, poor subjective sleep quality, an increased sleep fragmentation, as well as a decrease in slow wave sleep. Similar changes, albeit less pronounced, were observed during summer. Additional multidisciplinary research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind these changes in sleep architecture, and to investigate interventions to improve the sleep quality of the men and women deployed in the Antarctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Pattyn
- Vital Signs and Performance Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium; Human Physiology Dept, School for Exercise Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
| | - Martine Van Puyvelde
- Vital Signs and Performance Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Helio Fernandez-Tellez
- Vital Signs and Performance Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium; Human Physiology Dept, School for Exercise Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Bart Roelands
- Human Physiology Dept, School for Exercise Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
| | - Olivier Mairesse
- Vital Signs and Performance Research Unit, Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium; Human Physiology Dept, School for Exercise Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; Sleep Laboratory and Unit for Chronobiology, Brugmann University Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
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Sightings, edited by Erik Swenson and Peter Bärtsch. High Alt Med Biol 2016; 17:143-146. [PMID: 27689469 DOI: 10.1089/ham.2016.29013.stg] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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