© Pixabay/Michelle MariaAntarctica research station
Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development studied the effects of social isolation and extreme environmental conditions on the brains of five men and four women who spent a total of 14 months in the Antarctic, nine of which saw them cut off from the outside world.
The plucky participants ventured to the Neumayer-Station III, which experiences temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit) and almost complete darkness during the winter months.
To make matters worse, because of the harsh and unforgiving environment, there was no real chance to opt out of the mission during the winter months; emergency evacuation and food and equipment deliveries only take place during the summer months, so that is one long winter to spend with little privacy or personal space.
"This scenario offers us the opportunity to study the ways in which exposure to extreme conditions affect the human brain," says study lead Dr Alexander Stahn of Charité's Institute of Physiology.
The test subjects completed computer-based cognitive tests before, during, and after their stay to measure their concentration, memory, cognitive reaction times and spatial reasoning. They also underwent blood tests to measure growth factor known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes the growth of nerve cells and synapses in the brain. They also had MRIs before and after the participants' mission determine their brain structure.
Researchers discovered that the participants' dentate gyrus, the area of the hippocampus responsible for spatial thinking and memory, was smaller and their BDNF levels were decreased. Within three months the participants' BDNF levels had dropped below normal and they did not recover for 1.5 months after they returned.
The extreme conditions had impacted their spatial reasoning and so-called selective attention, where humans are required to block out irrelevant information.
Stahn stressed that it was a small sample size and hopes to conduct similar research in the future, wherein he will examine if more physical exercise can stave off the shrinking effects on the human brain.
Reader Comments
With very limited stimulus, being stuck in small shelters, and having no real distracting breaks from your laborious work would really put a damper on that region of the brain.
Use it or lose it. Hasn't that been proven a million times with the physical body?
A vegan diet is fully sufficient for this purpose.
By the way, what have this scientists eating there ?
Iron and all the minerals in our blood are sensitive to magnetism!
The geomagnetic field is much weaker then those of your favourite electronic household appliances, toys, and the support infrastructure of the latter.
Later I got confirmation from ayurvedic sources.
Heres how this is viewed in ayurveda:
[Link]
Search it yourself, Im sure you will find good information on it.
As a matter of fact, most of the windbags promoting eastern philosophies (e.g. Blavatsky) had strong ties to the secret service, too.
Why would scoundrels like Sadhguru promote sterilization of humans, and euthanasia ???
Listen to your body, if you can.
Anyway, do you know what a epidemiological study is ? Do you think we need to kill Nicolas Cage to avoid pool drownings [Link] ?
My background is such that I must try it before I believe in it. Ive been told so much lies and most of my personal success comes from being stuborn and having courage to step out of imposed norms.
fill me in on this Nicolas Cage epidemiologycal thing, I dont understand the pool question... and dont get me started on negative influences of hollywood
Same thing with N/S alignment of your sleeping place, and the stroke incident rate. Only in NC's case, it is more obvious. Albeit I wouldn't be unhappy if he was removed from the actor's pool ...
Im not saying everything in ayurveda or what sadhguru is saying is true either.
For example, have you noticed how ayurveda conviniently removed Cannabis from its catalogue of healing plants? And recently they started to bring it back because people are starting to see through the charade.
When it comes to actors I wouldnt be unhappy if hollywood studios and movies were to be removed from our collective experience
I can see the GCHQ/CIA hand behind Sadhguru, as it was visible e.g. behind Theosophy and Scientology. I know, names of anglosaxon secret services had been changing...
This was a rhetorical question. Experience tells me to skip any "magic miracle cure" report stating only fuzzy feelings. Tried too much of that without success.
why not try sleeping towards north for a week ... you wouldnt give in to propaganda but you would be open to benefits in your life
BTW, I know for some time now I know I'm sensitive to moon phase in this regards. And contrary to popular "superstion" claims, this is scientific fact. The disturbance is not by light, but the moon's effect on the geomagnetic field. Today is full moon.
TPTB infiltrate every group and movement on the planet to be sure to control and manipulate it if necessity for Divide and Conquer is always their motto.
Unlike previous well known Gurus who have done nothing but amass personal fortunes, Sadhguru has successfully brought all casts and religions together. He also works actively for many causes, education, health, the environment. In fact,he appears to be an inspiration to many.
Thus to call him a "Scoundrel" and accuse him of promoting Euthanasia and Sterilization, plus being a tool of the CIA! seems, in my opinion, totally unjust.
Later I got confirmation from ayurvedic sources.
Heres how this is viewed in ayurveda:
[Link]
Search it yourself, Im sure you will find good information on it.