Cold Water and Decision-Making

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Behavior, Stress, Quality of Life, Psychological Wellbeing

In brief

The behavioral within-subject cross-over design study "CoVa" aims to investigate the effect of a short-term full-body cold-water immersion vs. warm-water immersion control on value-based choice, psychological well-being, and peripheral physiology.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06908447

Run by

German Institute of Human Nutrition

People needed

40

Starts

2025-08-28

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-21

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 18-40 years of age
• Consent to participate
• Fluency in German
• Physically and mentally healthy
• BMI 18-30 kg/m2
• Normal day-night rhythm

You may not qualify if…

• Raynaud syndrome
• Cold urticaria
• High resting heart rate (>160 beats per minute)
• Acute infection
• Diagnosed current or former illnesses of
• Brain and mind
• Heart and blood circulation
• Gastrointestinal system
• Endocrine system
• Other serious past or present medical conditions
• Wearing of medical devices (e.g., pacemaker)
• Fear of blood, needles, or phlebotomy
• Allergies to plasters, gels, and other medical equipment
• Allergies to commercially available liquid meals (e.g., shakes, yfood Labs GmbH)
• Recurrent intake of medication which affect metabolism
• Regular nicotine consumption (e.g., vaping, cigarettes)
• Excessive alcohol consumption (>14 servings/week)
• Recent illegal drug consumption (within 2 weeks prior)
• Strong mental or physical stress
• Excessive exercise (>2 h high-intensity exercise/day)
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Inability to wear skin-exposing swimwear, e.g., for religious reasons
• Affinity for winter swimming, cryotherapy, breathwork (>3 times/year)

Where it is running

• German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke — Nuthetal, Germany (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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