To investigate this, we conducted multi-modal imaging assessments of the brain and the periphery using a combination of fMRI and PET/CT imaging. The relative contributions of the brain and the periphery that endow the Iceman with these capabilities is unknown. Here we present a case study of a 57-year old Dutch national, Wim Hof, the so-called "Iceman", with the ability to withstand frequent prolonged periods of extreme cold exposure based on the practice of a self-developed technique involving a combination of forced breathing, cold exposure and meditation (collectively referred to as the Wim Hof Method, henceforth "WHM"). There is however, anecdotal evidence of a unique set of individuals known for extreme cold tolerance. Autonomous mechanisms of thermoregulation are only weakly affected by top-down modulation, allowing only transient tolerance for extreme cold. The defense of body temperature against environmental thermal challenges is a core objective of homeostatic regulation governed by the autonomic nervous system.
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January 2023
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