ATNS-I
Research in the Field / Analogue Training & Navigational SkillsMOUNTAIN & HIGH-ALTITUDE ENVIRONMENTS
Excursion in the Andorran and Spanish Pyrenees
Key Concepts:
> danger can arise from everywhere: challenges in remote environments.
> physical and mental fatigue, cognitive performance, and team cohesion in excursions.
> the use od Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) as an efficient methodology to gather feedback in-situ.
> the “granular effect” as a way to cope with stress.
© NeurAstra — Excursion in the eastern Pyrenees mountain range (2023).
The challenges of human adaptation to isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments have been extensively studied in contexts such as space missions and Antarctic expeditions. These settings, where individuals are cut off from their usual social and sensory environments, require a deep understanding of both psychological and physiological coping mechanisms. This article is the first of a series of Research in the Field, exploring the dynamics of psychological resilience, physiological adaptation, and team cohesion in natural environments.
FFrom unpredictable weather conditions and technical malfunctions to terrain hazards and wildlife encounters, dangers can arise from almost anywhere in unfamiliar environments. The constant vigilance required to anticipate and manage these dangers, combined with the limited resources available, is known to increase stress levels and exacerbate physical fatigue. From a physiological perspective, individuals exposed to harsh environments often show hormonal imbalances and experience appetite disruptions and stress-induced health issues, such as cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal issues, immune system suppression, musculoskeletal problems and skin conditions. Chronic and prolonged stress can also lead to mental health distress, characterised by anxiety, cognitive overload, and impaired decision-making, ultimately leading to a greater risk of accidents. These risks could be further amplified when the missions are conducted in teams, as interpersonal tensions and cultural differences can strain relationships and hinder collaborative decision-making.
→ The Context
Duration: 14 days
Date: September-October 2023
Distance covered: approximately 130 km
Temperature range: between -5°C and 18°C
Altitude: ranging from 2,500m to 2,900m
Objective: study the impacts of environmental stress on human performance while evaluating the efficiency of ecological momentary assessment tools.
Challenges: steep terrains, changing weather, limited resources, and unpredictable environmental conditions.
The ATNS-I excursion represents our first effort to study human cognitive performance in a mountain environment. This preliminary excursion was also designed to help shape future Research in the Field initiatives by gaining experience dealing with adverse conditions and managing travel logistics. Our team of six, comprising five scientists and one psychologist, embarked on a trek through the high-altitude regions of the Pyrenees in the Ordino parish in Andorra. With their rugged landscapes, variable climates, and high altitudes, the Pyrenees serve as the perfect “analogue setting” to investigate how teams cope with physical strain and environmental stress in a natural setting.
While navigating through steep terrains and unpredictable weather, data on the team’s cognitive performance and physiological responses were gathered. As part of the study, the team performed daily cognitive tests to monitor any declines in mental sharpness and filled in self-assessment questionnaires to track mood shifts. Additionally, wearable devices tracked sleep patterns. Much like in space missions, team dynamics were also critical to ensure the success of ATNS-I. With little contact with the outside world, the team had to rely on each other for emotional and physical support. These crew interactions were also qualitatively documented and later analysed.
→ Testing Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA)
As part of this initiative, we incorporated Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to capture real-time data on team members’ experiences and behaviours and circumvent retrospective data-gathering methodologies. This approach allowed us to assess mental and physiological responses to environmental stressors as they occurred, providing a more granular understanding of adaptation in extreme conditions. Using wearable devices and mobile surveys, participants recorded their mood, cognitive performance, and physiological states multiple times daily. EMA enabled the team to gather data that would otherwise be lost or distorted through retrospective reporting, offering insights into the dynamic interactions between fatigue, stress, and interpersonal relationships during the trek. Despite the small team size, EMA proved effective in capturing the ebb and flow of experiences in situ, reinforcing its potential for future expeditions. It highlighted how context-specific stressors, such as a sudden weather shift or challenging terrain, impacted both individual performance and team cohesion.
→ Raw Observations & Findings
Please note: ATNS-I findings must be taken cautiously since the team size was reduced, our research material was limited, and several methodologies relied on self-assessment questionnaires.
One of the most notable observations was the decline in cognitive performance, attributed to physical exertion and exposure to aleatory weather conditions. Daily cognitive tests focusing on memory, attention, and reaction time abilities made via SMART surveys indicated a steady decrease in mental sharpness after only five days. Particularly, tasks that required sustained attention showed the most significant deterioration.
This decrease in mental sharpness was also attributed to poor sleep quality, measured through wearable devices (i.e., Actigraph). Our measurements showed that all team members experienced fragmented sleep patterns, particularly during the first nights, characterised by shorter sleep cycles and less restorative sleep.
An important aspect of the physiological outcomes was related to appetite and nutritional intake. Several team members reported a significant loss of appetite. This reduction in food intake, coupled with increased energy expenditure, created a caloric deficit, which, over time, may have contributed to physical fatigue and increased susceptibility to stress.
The findings are consistent with other studies in high-altitude environments, where appetite suppression is a known challenge due to hypoxia and changes in metabolic demand. For space missions, where food supply is limited and nutritional intake is tightly regulated, understanding the drivers behind appetite suppression and caloric balance is critical.
This excursion also highlighted the importance of social cohesion and teamwork in overcoming environmental stress. Moments of interpersonal tension did arise, particularly during periods of physical strain. These tensions, while temporary, demonstrated how quickly stress can escalate into conflict when individuals are placed in such environments. Feedback and individual comments in the open-ended question of the survey also underscored the importance of clear communication and mutual support.
Interestingly, we noted a strong connection between cognitive fatigue and emotional volatility, suggesting that as mental sharpness declined, individuals became more susceptible to frustration and irritability.
→ Discussion: The “Granular Effect” of Nature
This first ATNS-I excursion was the perfect occasion to disentangle the complexities of an expedition in a natural and high-altitude environment. This itinerary gave us a clear overview of the main challenges and outcomes, ranging from reduced appetite, fatigue, irritability, and cognitive decline.
The integration of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) underscored the critical importance of capturing data at the right moment. Research has shown that retrospective self-reports are often prone to recall bias, systematically distorting experiences due to memory reconstruction and cognitive heuristics. EMA, by contrast, allowed us to gather real-time, contextually relevant data that faithfully represented the dynamic interactions between participants and their environment. This approach enabled a more nuanced understanding of fluctuations in cognitive performance, stress levels, and team cohesion, which would have been obscured by aggregate or recall-based assessments. As this study demonstrates, the validity and utility of research data hinge on its immediacy and ecological validity—factors that EMA is uniquely positioned to address. Moving forward, the application of EMA can significantly advance our ability to design interventions and strategies that respond in real-time to the needs of individuals and teams in extreme environments.
Ultimately, despite the challenges posed by the rugged environment, living amidst the natural beauty and discovering the local fauna and flora were extraordinary experiences. They undoubtedly served as a powerful reminder that the profound perspective shift often described in the “overview effect” of seeing Earth from space can also occur in more localised, specific settings. Immersing oneself in nature’s intricate details—the sounds of wildlife, the textures of the landscape, the subtle smells—evoked a sense of awe and connectedness. This deeply personal experience might be aptly termed the “granular effect”, in opposition to the “overview”, where the focus on the small-scale wonders of our surroundings fosters a similar sense of appreciation and perspective as the cosmic view does.
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This project is related to the following NeurAstra System:
(S01) Blue Dot/White Tangerine > H.A.P.M.O.S.
The theme of mental health in ICE environements is further explored in our article “Mental Health at the Edge of the World”
Our analogue missions and initiatives follow the International Guidelines and Standards for Space Analogs (IGSA) standards procedures.