Cory Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Baylor University
Biography
Areas of Expertise
Education
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D.
Human Sciences
2019
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
M.S.
Nutrition and Health Sciences
2016
California State University-San Bernardino
B.S.
2013
Media Appearances
April 17 News Roundup + Dr. Cory Smith Interview
103.3 KWBY radio
2026-04-17
JB will be talking to Dr. Cory Smith about the grand opening and ongoing research of ARKTOS: A pioneering research project that helps military and civilian teams rapidly prepare for Arctic deployment.
Military training for arctic extremes begins in the Texas heat
FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth tv
2026-04-16
ARKTOS co-director and Baylor professor Dr. Cory Smith (blue coat and tie) led a tour of the ARKTOS Arctic environmental chamber for Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-17) (brown coat and gold tie), who secured $1 million for Phase I of the research center in the FY 2024 appropriations bill and for Phase II in the FY 2026 appropriations bill. The chamber is designed to test and develop protocols and technologies that will help both military personnel and civilians be more prepared for the rapid acclimatization that might be necessary for Arctic deployment.
Baylor University Celebrates Grand Opening of ARKTOS Research Center
Baylor University online
2026-04-15
Co-directed by Carter and Associate Professor Cory M. Smith, Ph.D., the ARKTOS chamber provides researchers with a space to study rapid acclimatization, combat casualty care, tactical decision making, sleep optimization and field-based biomedical device testing.
“It has been reported that eight of every 12 potentially survivable injuries in recent conflicts might have been prevented with proper tactical combat casualty care at the point of injury,” Smith said.
Surviving the Arctic: Baylor’s ARKTOS Research Center completes Phase 1
Baylor Lariat online
2026-04-14
Co-Directors Dr. Jason Carter, dean and professor in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, and Dr. Cory Smith, associate professor in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, hosted a tour and grand opening of Baylor’s ARKTOS Research Center Monday at the BRIC.
Baylor University Launches Arctic Lab to Study Cold’s Impact on Troops
The Defense Post online
2026-04-14
ARKTOS Co-Director Cory Smith said the facility addresses a growing need as US forces prepare for operations in regions with extremely low temperatures.
“We want to quantify why that’s happening, and then we are creating mitigation strategies to make it where it’s not impacting [them] as much, to improve their decision making and improve their cognitive load,” Smith explained.
Baylor University opens arctic research center to prepare U.S. troops for cold-weather combat
KCEN TV online
2026-04-13
Dr. Cory Smith, co-director of the ARKTOS Research Center, said most American soldiers train and station in warm climates, making the transition to Arctic environments a significant physical and cognitive challenge.
"The vast majority of our soldiers are in warmer climates, and they are getting deployed and having to perform those activities," Smith said. "We don't know enough about how individuals respond when they go from these extreme hot environments, like they are in in Texas, and put them in this extreme cold weather."
Articles
Hemodynamic responses of the prefrontal cortex following cold water immersion during an eyes-closed balance assessment
European Journal of Applied Physiology2025
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the impact of cold water immersion (CWI) on balance and the corresponding hemodynamic responses that occur within the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Measuring PFC activation during balance will identify cognitive mechanisms underlying postural control, which can be used to identify balance impairments or fall risk.
Methods
Twenty-three participants completed two separate testing visits consisting of a 10-min CWI at 15 °C and thermoneutral water immersion (TWI) at 35 °C. A 30-s eyes-closed balance assessment was performed pre- and post-exposure to identify changes in Path Length, Sway Range, and Sway Velocity. Oxygenated (O2Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) were measured over the PFC using functional near-infrared spectroscopy during all balance assessments.
Cold Water Immersion: Simultaneous Assessment of Cerebral Oxygenation, Vascular Function, and Thermoregulatory Responses
Military Medicine2025
Developing a greater understanding of how the body reacts following cold water immersion (CWI) and its impact on human performance is required for the development of future monitoring technologies and countermeasures to reduce cold-induced impairments. Currently, there are no field-deployable technologies for real-time monitoring of cold-induced neurochemical and metabolic changes, limiting physiological assessment tools for monitoring the impact of cold immersion on cognitive and physical performance. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) may be an effective technique for monitoring the impact of cold exposures on neurophysiological functions; however, a deeper examination of the fNIRS patterns of responses is needed to progress the interpretability of this technique in austere environments.
Functional and Neurophysiological Changes After Activities-Based Locomotor Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Case Series
Pediatric Physical Therapy2026
Purpose:
The purpose of this case series was to explore the feasibility and impact of a 3-week activities-based locomotor training (AB-LT) program on functional activities and neurophysiological adaptations in 5 children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods:
Children, aged 2–6 years who were classified as Gross Motor Function Classification Scale levels III or IV, participated in the intervention 5 days per week for 3 hours per day. The Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy neuroimaging were performed pre-and post-intervention.
Peripheral muscle strength and lung function in adults with cystic fibrosis
Respiratory Medicine2026
Background
People with CF (pwCF) have decreased lung function, lean body mass, tensile strength, and exercise tolerance compared to age-matched healthy individuals. We investigated the relationship between peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function, and inspiratory muscle strength in pwCF.
Methods
155 participants (51% female, 35.2 ± 13.5 years-old; 49% male, 35.6 ± 11.5 years-old) were evaluated for handgrip strength (HGS), forced vital capacity percent predicted (FVCpp), and forced expiratory volume in one second percent predicted (FEV1pp). A subset of participants (n=86; 52% female, 37.6 ± 13.2 years-old; 48% male, 35.6 ± 11.5 years-old) underwent maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) testing.
Night Vision Goggles: Influence on Cognition, Gait, and Tactical Tasks
Journal of Special Operations Medicine: a Peer Reviewed Journal for SOF Medical Professionals2026
Background
Night vision goggles (NVG) grant warfighters a tactical advantage in low-light environments. However, NVG use can negatively affect visual acuity, depth perception, and color discrimination, which impacts warfighter safety and operational performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical effects in the walking phase of an obstacle clearance course and prefrontal cortex (PFC) regional oxygen saturation (rScO2) during embedded marksmanship and cognitive tasks performed with and without NVGs.
