TACTICE investigates how long-term isolation and reduced social touch during an Antarctic winter-over affect the way people perceive and respond to touch. The study will follow winter-over crew members at Concordia Station in Antarctica during the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
The study focuses on so-called C-tactile (CT) sensitivity. CT afferents are specialized nerve fibers in the skin that are known to be involved in the pleasant and regulatory effects of social touch. They may also play a role in how prolonged social isolation affects people during a long-term mission in an isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environment.
Participants will be assessed repeatedly before, during and after their stay. CT sensitivity will be measured using standardized touch stimulation and computer-based tasks involving touch-related stimuli. Participants will also complete questionnaires on social touch, loneliness, stress, relationships and coping. Saliva and blood samples will be collected to measure biological markers related to stress regulation and social processes, including cortisol and oxytocin.
The main hypothesis is that prolonged isolation and reduced opportunities for social touch change CT sensitivity and reduce an important source of stress regulation. These changes are expected to become more pronounced with time spent at the station and to be related to changes in stress responses, behaviour, attitudes and interpersonal functioning. The study aims to improve understanding of how people adapt to prolonged isolation and confinement and may help inform the planning of future long-duration missions in remote and extreme environments, including space missions.
Member of the Concordia Station winter-over crew for the 2027 or 2028 Antarctic winter-over season and willing to participate in the study.
No study-specific exclusion criteria.
Winter-over Crew members in Concordia Station in Antarctica
Cohort
Prospective
No Intervention: Observational Cohort
Other interventionTACTICE is considered an observational study because the exposure of interest(i.e., long-term isolation and confinement during an Antarctic winter-over at Concordia Station) is not assigned by the study investigators. Participants are winter-over crew members who will stay at Concordia independently of their participation in TACTICE. The study follows this predefined cohort prospectively and repeatedly over time to observe changes in CT sensitivity, stress-related biological markers, behaviour, attitudes and interpersonal functioning. The protocol therefore describes TACTICE as a "longitudinal study with a naturalistic design. The standardized touch stimulation, computer-based tasks, questionnaires, saliva sampling and blood sampling are used as study assessments to measure outcomes over time and not as therapeutic or diagnostic interventions.
Change in experiential C-tactile (CT) sensitivity assessed by pleasantness and intensity ratings on a Visual Analog Scale ranging from -10 to +10 using the Manual Tactile Stimulator.
Experiential CT sensitivity will be assessed using standardized stroking touch, delivered with a mechanic Manual Tactile Stimulator tool to the forearm and palm at three velocities (0.3, 3, and 30 cm/s), using smooth and ribbed probe surfaces. Participants rate perceived pleasantness and intensity on a Visual Analog Scale ranging from -10 to +10. Changes in VAS scores across repeated assessments will be used to characterize experiential CT sensitivity over time.
Change in vicarious C-tactile (CT) sensitivity assessed by pleasantness and intensity ratings on a Visual Analog Scale ranging from -10 to +10 using the Vicarious Touch Task
Vicarious CT sensitivity will be assessed using standardized 6-second videos depicting interpersonal touch at different body locations and velocities. Participants rate the perceived pleasantness and intensity of the observed touch on a Visual Analog Scale ranging from -10 to +10. Changes in ratings across repeated assessments will be used to characterize vicarious CT sensitivity over time.
Change in behavioral C-tactile (CT) sensitivity assessed by interpersonal space boundary using the Footstep Task with response time in milliseconds (ms).
Interpersonal space boundary will be assessed using an auditory stop-distance paradigm. Participants listen to approaching footsteps and press a key when the approaching person makes them feel uncomfortable. The outcome measure is the response time in milliseconds (ms) from stimulus onset to the stop response. Changes in response time across repeated assessments will be used as an indirect behavioral measure associated with CT sensitivity.
Change in neurobiophysiological C-tactile (CT) sensitivity assessed by salivary cortisol concentration (µg/L) measured by saliva sampling and analyses
Salivary cortisol concentration concentration will be measured as a neuroendocrine marker of HPA-axis stress regulation associated with C-tactile (CT)-mediated touch. Saliva samples are collected on one combined sampling evening and morning per month. One sample is collected before bedtime and three samples are collected in the following morning: immediately after awakening, 30 minutes after awakening, and 60 minutes after awakening. Cortisol concentrations (µg/L) and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) will be evaluated across repeated assessments over time.
Change in neurobiophysiological C-tactile (CT) sensitivity assessed by plasma oxytocin concentration (pg/ml) measured by blood sampling and analyses
Plasma oxytocin concentration will be measured from blood samples as a neuroendocrine marker associated with affiliative social touch and the rewarding neurobiology of C-tactile (CT)-mediated touch. Changes in plasma oxytocin concentration (pg/ml) will be evaluated across repeated assessments over time.
Change in psychosocial and behavioral characteristics associated with C-tactile (CT) sensitivity assessed using standardized questionnaires with total and/or subscale questionnaire scores.
Psychosocial and behavioral characteristics will be assessed using the Touch Experiences and Attitudes Questionnaire - short version (TEAQ-s), Brief COPE, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Experiences in Close Relationships - Short Form (ECR-S), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). These questionnaires assess social touch experiences and attitudes, coping strategies, loneliness and social isolation, attachment anxiety and avoidance, and state/trait anxiety, respectively. The outcome measures are the total and/or subscale questionnaire scores, calculated according to the scoring procedures of each instrument. Changes in these scores will be assessed across repeated measurements over time.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Lead sponsor
Belgium: Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO)
Collaborator
European Space Agency
Collaborator
Institut Polaire Français Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV)
Collaborator
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
