Expo 07 Research Projects

• Microclimate research project– led by Aaron Curtis (speaking)

• Caver stress study– led by Djuke Veldhuis (speaking)

• Radon detector project– led by Mark Dougherty (unable to attend)

2007 CUCC Expedition to Austria

BCRA conference September 2007

Presented by:

Djuke Veldhuis

SPIT HAPPENS !!!

Background

The interconnected fields on which this research is built …

● Human evolution & adaptation

● Psychoneuroimmunology

● Genetics

● Ethnography

● Psychology

Stress, Hormones & the Nervous system.

PARASYMPAHTHETIC and SYMPATHETIC

Arousing

Calmnig

What’s happening?Adrenaline and noradrenaline are released into the bloodstream from the adrenal medulla. Cortisol is the other key hormone released from a portion of the adrenal glands called the adrenal cortex. Together, these hormones flood every cell in the body with the specific message to prepare for fight-or-flight.

Increased (CNS) activity - Immune system is suppressed Increased mental activity -Sweat glands increase secretion Increased output of blood cholesterol -Reproductive and sexual systems stop working Increased heart rate Increased cardiac output -Bowel and Bladder sphincter close Increased blood pressure - Kidneys decrease output Increased breathing rate - Decreased perception of pain Breathing airways dilate -Saliva dries up Increased metabolism - Excretory system turns off Increased oxygen consumption - Digestive system stops metabolizing food normally Increased oxygen to the brain Blood is shunted away from the digestive tract and directed into the muscles and limbs Increased muscle contraction which leads to increased strength Increased blood coagulation (blood clotting ability) Increased circulation of free fatty acids Increased blood sugar released by the liver to nourish the muscles Release of endorphins from the pituitary gland Pupils of the eyes dilateCapillaries under the surface of the skin constrict (which consequently increases blood pressure)Blood thinsHair stands on end

Effects of chronic stressProblems of chronic stress & elevated stress hormones

Key functional disorders associated with chronic high levels of stress (adapted from Brown, 1981).

Acne Eczema

Arthritis Glaucoma

Asthma Gout

Cardiovascular disease

Hypertension

Constipation Hyperthyroidism

Diarrhoea Kidney liver disease

Duodenal ulcers Malignant neoplasms

Vascular headaches Stomach ulcers

Vasomotor rhinitis.

Cortisol & the circadian rhythm

• Social stress fellow cavers!• Novelty of living conditions• Cave environment temperature, water levels etc.• Relative perception e.g. fear of heights + 100m pitch• Length, duration, difficulty of trip.

Sources of stress?

CHRONICITY, DURATION, INTENSITY, CONTROLLABILITY, PREDICTAB ILITY.

Data collection

Baseline samplesGiven at home in ‘normal’ environment :

1st sample: at time of awakening (time recorded)2nd sample: 30 minutes later3rd sample: 10.00 hrs4th sample: 14.00 hrs (‘afternoon’)5th sample: 20.00 hrs (‘evening’)

Austria Samples

1st sample: 10.00 hrs (time of awakening recorded—’waking’)2nd sample: 14.00 hrs (‘afternoon’)3rd sample: 20.00 hrs (‘evening’)

Also collected were ‘ad hoc’ samples to be given during periods of rapid emotional / physiological change.

Saliva storage

Questionnaires The questionnaires were designed to give a ‘context’ to the

physiological (cortisol) measures.

•Personality questionnaires e.g.

• Demographic (e.g. age, nationality, level of caving experience)

• General health / happiness questionnaire e.g.

• Medical background

A few results

• ~ 585 pots of spits (i.e. the runny kind!)

• 22 participants, 17 / 5