Manual performance as a function of rate of change in hand skin temperature

Abstract

Manual performance (knot tying) was studied as a function of fast and slow rates of cooling during cold exposure and during subsequent rewarming. It was found that performance decrements accompanying cold exposure were sizeably increased as the rate of cooling decreased. These increased decrements associated with slow cooling perseverated even after the hands had been rewarmed to precooling temperatures. In addition, the results indicated a direct relationship between rate of cooling and rate of rewarming. Submitted on November 30, 1959