- 作者：Sarah M. Parker ; Jennifer R. Erin ; Riana R. Pryor ; Priya Khorana ; Joe Suyama ; Frank X. Guyette ; Steven E. Reis ; David Hostler
- 关键词：hyperthermia ; hiking ; heat stress ; attention ; reaction time
- 刊名：Wilderness & Environmental Medicine
- 出版年：2013
- 出版时间：September, 2013
- 年：2013
- 卷：24
- 期：3
- 页码：203-210
- 全文大小：392 K
Objective
When people are involved in outdoor activities, it is important to be able to assess a situation and make rational decisions. The goal of this study is to determine the effects of 90 minutes of light-intensity exercise in a hot environment on executive functioning capabilities of healthy individuals.Methods
In this prospective laboratory study, 40 healthy male and female subjects 18 to 45 years of age performed treadmill exercise while wearing athletic clothing and a backpack in either a hot or temperate environment. Vital signs, core and skin temperature, and perceptual measures (thermal sensation, sweating, comfort, and perceived exertion) were measured before, during, and after the treadmill test. Cognitive function was measured before and after the treadmill test using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and a Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT).
Results
Subjects in the hot condition reached a similar core temp of 38.2¡ã ¡À 0.5¡ãC vs 37.7¡ã ¡À 0.3¡ãC (P = .325) in the temperate group but had a higher heart rate (P < .001) and skin temperature (P < .001). Hot and normal temperature groups did not differ in their PVT performance. There were more correct responses (P < .001), fewer errors (P < .001), and more conceptual responses (P = .001) on the WCST after exertion in both the hot room and normal temperature room conditions. Perseverations and perseverative errors (P = .002) decreased in both groups after exertion.
Conclusions
Conditions of mild heat stress coupled with modest rehydration and short hiking treks do not appear to negatively affect executive function or vigilance.