Characterization of Corticospinal Excitability During Progressive Skin Cooling

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study characterizes the changes in corticospinal excitability that accompany basic cold stress via skin cooling that result in reduced skin or core temperature and shivering.

Detailed Description
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Cold stress is known to impair both fine and gross motor movement. Reductions in performance may have life threatening consequences in survival situations where maintenance of muscle control is necessary. Much of the effects cooling has on muscle performance is directly due to its effects on muscle tissue itself, whereas less is known about the effects on the central nervous system. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to characterize corticospinal excitability that accompanies basic cold stress via progressive skin cooling, resulting in reductions in skin (Tsk) or core (Tco) temperature and shivering.

Official Title
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Characterization of Corticospinal Excitability During Progressive Skin Cooling

Conditions
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Hypothermia Due to Cold Environment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Cold Stress


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy adult Right Handed Pass Magnetic Stimulation Safety Checklist Pass Medical Screening Questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: Left Handed Any adverse responses to cold exposure (Raynaud's Syndrome) Cardiorespiratory Disease

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Repeat Measures
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control Condition<br>Subjects will sit at rest wearing a liquid perfused suit containing thermoneutral water for 60 min. The suit will not be turned on during this period. | |
| Experimental: Cold Condition<br>Subjects will be cooled for 60-90 min at   4-10°C using a liquid perfused suit. Subjects will then be rewarmed for 30 min at   41°C using the liquid perfused suit. | Other: Cold Stress<br>* 60-90 mins of cooling via a liquid perfused suit circulating  4-10°C liquid.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Corticospinal Excitability | Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) as a percentage of the maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax) measured via MEG at the Biceps Brachii will serve as the indices of Corticospinal excitbaility | at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Spinal Excitability | Cervicomedullary Motor Evoked Potentials (CMEP) as a percentage of the maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax) measured via MEG at the Biceps Brachii will serve as the indices of spinal excitability | at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes | 
| Change in Skin Temperature | Mean skin temperature of 7 sites | at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes | 
| Change in Core Temperature | Esophageal temperature is the most accurate method representing the temperature of the heart. | at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes | 
| Change in Metabolic Heat Production | Metabolic heat production serves as an objective way to quantify shivering thermogenesis. | at 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Body Temperature, Skin Temperature, Cooling