title: Effects of a cold-water stressor on psychomotor and cognitive functioning in humans.
abstract: The effects of an acute stressful and painful stimulus, cold water, on psychomotor and cognitive functioning, was assessed in 14 healthy volunteers. Subjects immersed their forearm in ice-cold water (2-3 degrees C) and luke-warm water (37 degrees C) for 3 min, and during this time period a psychomotor or cognitive test was performed. These immersions were done over the course of two experimental sessions, spaced at least 2 days apart, with six trials in each session. Within each session, cold and warm water immersions alternated. Results indicated that flicker-from-fusion threshold from the critical flicker frequency test was higher in the cold-water condition than in the luke-warm-water condition, indicative of increased alertness from the cold stimulus. Short-term memory was attenuated, however, in the cold-water condition. Performance on other tests including those that required speed and/or concentration were not affected by the manipulation. Subjects rated the cold-water stimulus as painful and bothersome, and their blood pressure was significantly elevated by the stimulus. We conclude that a painful stimulus may affect psychomotor and/or cognitive functioning, but the relationship is somewhat complex and depends on the particular tests used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Apfelbaum
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zacny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water