Dynamics of the body composition and neurohumoral and psychophysiological status of humans in the conditions of 105-day isolation and confinement

Consumed NaCl was rationed and integral impedancemetric, psychological, and hormonal studies were performed in six male volunteers 25 to 40 years old before, during, and after an experiment with 105-day isolation and confinement. Every 30 days blood collection for hormonal measurements was combined with filling in Cattell’s 16 personality factor questionnaire. The parameters of total body fluid, body mass, basic exchange, specific hydration and basic exchange were determined. The results showed that the experimental conditions did not affect significantly the body composition, metabolism, and its neurohumoral regulation. The metabolic variations were largely associated with motivation for and value orientation in accommodation, to the permissible extent, of the controlled diet and work/rest schedule to personal needs. In addition, it was found that evolution of the psychophysiological status of humans in isolation and confinement is governed primarily by personality characteristics and, to a less degree, by the specifics and duration of exposure to the artificial environment. Thus, in the opinion of the volunteers, the normoxic, normobaric and slightly hypercapnic (0.15–0.65% CO2) atmosphere was comfortable and harmless to health. The analysis of the whole data array confirmed the expressed interrelation between neuroendocrine and psychophysiological parameters as well as shifts in body basic exchange and mass, salt intake, and hydration rate in the conditions of isolation and confinement.