Before initiating the experiment, the volunteer filled out a pre-experiment questionnaire. The questionnaire allowed for the subjects to share any history of high blood pressure, if they work in a cold environment, their average heart rate, and other related information. Each step of the procedure was explained to the volunteer, allowing them to ask any questions regarding the experiment. The selected population for this experiment consisted of male and female college students between the ages of 18 and 22 years old. The volunteers for the experiment provided a baseline value of the grip strength, heart rate, blood pressure, and reaction time. This baseline then allowed for direct comparisons to be made based on changes in these measurements after being exposed to the cold temperature. Six males and six females performed the experiment with ice water(5o C) while two females and two males performed the experiment with room temperature water (20o C).
Materials:
Stimulating bar electrode with hand dynamometer to test grip fatigue
Pulse transducer to detect the change in pulse due to temperature
Sphygmomanometer with a stethoscope to detect the change in blood pressure due to cold temperature
Push button transducer to measure reflexes and reaction times
Procedure 1: Baseline Blood Pressure and Reaction Time
Set up the sphygmomanometer onto the subject's non-dominant arm and use the stethoscope to manually determine the blood pressure of the subject. Remove the sphygmomanometer and set up the push button transducer for the volunteer's dominant hand. Instruct the subject that the software has been preprogrammed to provide randomized auditor cues. The subject may use the first 5 auditory cues as practice once the recording has started. Have the subject push the transducer as soon as they hear the auditory stimulus. Record until the subject has accurately responded to 10 auditory cues. Remove the push button transducer from the subject's dominant hand. Analyze their reaction time by averaging the difference between the time of stimulus and time of reaction.