To avoid confusion read my answer on cognitive science stack exchange. While it is just an opinion, it is quite an informed one. I participated in the study above. Our final challenge was walking on a ski mountain for 2.5 hours -7 degrees celsius with shorts and shoes. You could bring a hat for style points (I did :) ) but no shirt. Once in a lifetime experience: hugging people in ski-suits who were on vacation while I was dressed like I&#x27;d go to a summer pool party.<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;cogsci.stackexchange.com&#x2F;questions&#x2F;10651&#x2F;does-wim-hof-really-consciously-control-his-autonomic-nervous-systemx" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;cogsci.stackexchange.com&#x2F;questions&#x2F;10651&#x2F;does-wim-hof...</a><p>I agree with you on the idea it&#x27;s not classical conditioning. The WHM has 3 components: cold exposure, breathing technique and the right mindset (mindset is akin to optimism but it is more stereotypical game-shaman like, e.g. &quot;the cold is your friend.&quot;). IMO the breathing technique produces the biggest effect, then cold exposure itself and the mindset acts like an amplification of what you learned. In my <i>subjective</i> experience I&#x27;d ratio the effects as 41&#x2F;39&#x2F;20 (breathing,exposure,mindset).