YOU are sitting in a business meeting when you notice a colleague staring off into the distance with a vacant expression on her face. This may not be a case of plain old boredom 鈥� this could be the Antarctic stare.
Often described as the 12-foot stare in a 10-foot room, it is not surprisingly often exhibited by those living in the Antarctic. A spontaneous fugue-like state, the stare can last up to an hour and those who have experienced it describe it as feeling as if their mind has gone totally blank.
鈥淎 spontaneous state, the stare can last up to an hour鈥�
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Why do residents of the Antarctic fall victim to the stare? You can blame the challenging physical environment. Continuous daylight or darkness can severely disrupt the body鈥檚 circadian rhythm, altering the normal distribution of hormones, such as noradrenalin and dopamine, which help control one鈥檚 stress levels and mood.
With their circadian rhythms out of whack, people often have trouble sleeping, and the resulting fatigue is a major trigger of the stare. Along with sleep deprivation come side effects that include depression, anger, irritability and impaired cognition.
Then there鈥檚 the extreme cold. In trying to maintain its proper temperature, the body directs thyroid hormones such as T3 (triiodothyronine) to the skeletal muscles rather than to the brain. This means they cannot perform their usual role as neurotransmitters, so the brain is unable to function as effectively as it should. Antarctic stare is often accompanied by short-term memory loss, absent-mindedness and lack of motivation.
of the University of Southern California has been researching ways to combat the unpleasant side effects of living in cold and dark places. His work is of particular interest to NASA, as astronauts spend a great deal of time in similar environments.
Palinkas recommends eating well, exercising and developing a regular schedule for sleep, work and recreation. Staying mentally engaged is a good idea and thyroid supplements are often prescribed to those suffering from hypothyroidism brought on by the extreme cold.
Other researchers advise against revealing too many intimate details of your life to others, which could end up as unwanted gossip. Though there is minimal contact with the outside world, there is often too much contact with comrades, resulting in little privacy, constant gossip and, inevitably, social conflict.
Luckily, living in the Antarctic is not all bad. As Palinkas reported in earlier this year, many residents experience positive feelings brought on by the stunning scenery and the satisfaction of surviving such harsh conditions. The paper concludes that for expeditioners, the rewards generally outweigh the drawbacks.
So what鈥檚 the reason for your colleague鈥檚 dazed expression in the meeting? If she鈥檚 fatigued from burning the midnight oil then it might just be the Antarctic stare. Then again, pure boredom can鈥檛 be entirely ruled out.