Abstract:

The objective of this study was to determine whether there was significant change in cognitive performance by prolonged duration of residence in Antarctic environment. We examined 25th Chinese explorers who spent 12 months of continuous stay at the Great Wall Station in Antarctica .Cognitive measures (tests of shortterm recognition, memory searching and spatial cognition) were obtained in the summer (the first month, January 2009), at the preceding (March 2009), the beginning (April 2009) and the middle (June 2010) phases of winter in Antarctica. Repeatedmeasure ANOVA was conducted, with age controlled as a covariate. The tests of shortterm recognition and memory searching which measured shortterm memory showed stable performance over a longduration of residence in polar environment. Over 82% explorers showed that either the accuracy or reaction time of the task of space cognition was increased. The results of this study are of great significance to further study of the cognition performance in polar environment.

Key words: Antarctic environment, long duration, cognitive performance, memory, spatial cognition