Amnesia during cold water immersion: a case report

Wilderness Environ Med. 1998 Fall;9(3):153-5. doi: 10.1580/1080-6032(1998)009[0153:adcwia]2.3.co;2.

Abstract

This report describes a case of amnesia during a cold-water experiment. The volunteer was exposed three times in 1 day (120 min duration each time) to 20 degrees C water. During the third immersion, from min 95 to min 115, the subject experienced transient global amnesia for 20 min. The rectal temperature during this time was 35.6 degrees C. This single case demonstrates that memory loss in a young individual apparently can occur after cold-water exposure and at core temperatures above 35 degrees C.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amnesia, Transient Global / etiology*
  • Cold Temperature
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia / complications
  • Hypothermia / physiopathology*
  • Immersion
  • Male