目标:南极洲的冬季探险者受到各种环境和心理社会压力因素的挑战,这可能会引起心理生理变化。自主神经系统(ANS)在压力下的适应过程中起着至关重要的作用。然而,ANS活动与探险者情绪状态之间的关系在很大程度上仍未被探索。本研究旨在揭示南极极端环境下的ANS调节模式,并为ANS活动与情绪状态变化之间的相关性提供新的见解。可以为医疗干预提供科学数据。
方法:中山站的14名探险者参与了本研究。这项研究是在四个具有代表性的时期进行的:南极洲前,南极洲-1(冬季前),南极洲-2(冬季),和南极洲-3(夏季)。连续测量探险者的心率变异性(HRV)24小时以评估ANS活性。通过ELISA测试儿茶酚胺的血浆水平。情绪状态通过情绪状态概况(POMS)量表进行评估。
结果:HRV分析显示,在冬季和夏季,ANS受到干扰。对于频域参数,甚低频(VLF),低频(LF),高频(HF),在任务的下半年,总功率(TP)显着增加。尤其是,LF/HF比率在夏季下降,表明迷走神经张力占优势。时域分析的结果表明,冬季和夏季的心率变异性增加。血浆肾上腺素(E)在南极洲居住期间显着增加。与前南极洲相比,活力,抑郁症,在南方夏季,探险者的愤怒得分显着下降。值得注意的是,抑郁评分与LF/HF呈中度正相关,虽然与其他HRV指标呈弱负相关,包括TP,VLF,和LF。愤怒评分与LF/HF呈中度正相关,与平均正常到正常(NN)间隔呈弱负相关,以及相邻RR间隔之间差异的均方根(RMSSD)。血浆E水平与平均NN间隔弱相关。
结论:在南极洲的长期居住增加了ANS活性,并将心脏自主神经调节向迷走神经优势转移。HRV的改变与情绪状态和血浆肾上腺素水平相关。
OBJECTIVE: Winter-over expeditioners in Antarctica are challenged by various environmental and psycho-social stress factors, which may induce psychophysiological changes. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role in the adaptation process under stress. However, the relationship between ANS activity and the mood states of expeditioners remains largely unexplored. This study aims to uncover the pattern of ANS adjustment under extreme Antarctic environments and provide new insights into the correlations between ANS activity and mood state changes, which may provide scientific data for medical interventions.
METHODS: Fourteen expeditioners at Zhongshan Station participated in this study. The study was conducted during four representative periods: pre-Antarctica, Antarctica-1 (pre-winter), Antarctica-2 (winter), and Antarctica-3 (summer). The heart rate variability (HRV) of the expeditioners was continuously measured for 24 hours to evaluate ANS activity. Plasma levels of catecholamines were tested by ELISA. Mood states were assessed by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) scale.
RESULTS: HRV analysis showed a disturbance of ANS during winter and summer periods. For frequency domain parameters, very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and total power (TP) significantly increased during the second half of the mission. Especially, LF/HF ratio decreased during summer, indicating the predominance of vagal tone. Results of the time domain analysis showed increased heart rate variability during the austral winter and summer. Plasma epinephrine (E) significantly increased during residence in Antarctica. Compared with pre-Antarctica, the vigor, depression, and anger scores of the expeditioners decreased significantly during the austral summer. Notably, the depression score showed a moderate positive correlation with LF/HF, while weak negative correlations with other HRV indicators, including TP, VLF, and LF. Anger score showed a moderate positive correlation with LF/HF and weak negative correlations with the average normal-to-normal (NN) interval, and the root mean square of differences between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD). Plasma E level weakly correlated with the average NN interval.
CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged residence in Antarctica increased the ANS activities and shifted the cardiac autonomic modulation towards vagal predominance. The alteration of HRV correlated with mood states and plasma epinephrine levels.