Citation

Coehoorn CJ, Stuart-Hill LA, Abimbola W, Neary JP, Krigolson OE. Fire Safety J. 2020; 118: e103240.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103240

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the present experiment we evaluated the impact of rapid heat stress on decision-making and neural function. Previous work has demonstrated that heat stress has an impact on cognitive and neural function. Here, we hypothesized that a rapid increase in heat stress would result in reduced decision-making ability evidenced by a reduction in frontal theta electroencephalographic (EEG) power. Fifteen participants performed an incremental exercise test to a termination criterion (volitional maximum, core temperature = 39.5 °C, or a 2-h time cap) with or without fire-fighting gear (selection was randomized) in a laboratory with an ambient temperature of 25-26 °C. Immediately following the exercise test, participants completed a Go/No-Go task and we observed an increase in incorrect responses when the subjects were wearing fire-fighting gear; no change was observed without gear. Additionally, an analysis of frontal EEG revealed a decrease in theta power when comparing pre- and post-exercise values with fire-fighting gear on; no change was observed without gear. Importantly, our results suggest that rapid heat stress and the resulting increase in physiological strain causes a decrease in cognitive control that could result in serious consequences in life-saving occupations that require contemplative, effortful decision-making.

Language: en

Keywords

Cognitive control; Decision-making; Electroencephalography; Firefighting; Heat stress; Hyperthermia