Hypohydration and Acute Thermal Stress Affect Mood State but not Cognition or Dynamic Postural

Abstract

Equivocal findings have been reported in the few studies that examined the impact of ambient temperature (Ta) and hypohydration on cognition and dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of acute exposure to a range of ambient temperatures (Ta 10 40 deg C) in euhydration (EUH) and hypohydration (HYP) states on cognition, mood and dynamic balance. Thirty-two men (age 22 4 years, height 1.80 0.05 m, body mass 85.4 10.8 kg) were grouped into four matched cohorts (n = 8), and tested in one of the four Ta (10, 20, 30, 40 deg C) when EUH and HYP (-4 % body mass via exercise heat exposure). Cognition was assessed using psychomotor vigilance, 4-choice reaction time, matching to sample, and grammatical reasoning. Mood was evaluated by profile of mood states and dynamic postural balance was tested using a Biodex Balance System. Thermal sensation (TS), core (Tcore) and skin temperature (Tsk) were obtained throughout testing. Volunteers lost -4.1 0.4 % body mass during HYP. Tsk and TS increased with increasing Ta, with no effect of hydration. Cognitive performance was not altered by HYP or thermal stress. Total mood disturbance (TMD), fatigue, confusion, anger, and depression increased during HYP at all Ta. Dynamic balance was unaffected by HYP, but 10 deg C exposure impaired balance compared to all other Ta. Despite an increase in TMD during HYP, cognitive function was maintained in all testing environments, demonstrating cognitive resiliency in response to body fluid deficits. Dynamic postural stability at 10 deg C appeared to be hampered by low-grade shivering, but was otherwise maintained during HYP and thermal stress.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 12, 2012
Accession Number
ADA578998

Entities

People

  • Brett R Ely
  • Harris R Lieberman
  • Kurt J Sollanek
  • Robert W. Kenefick
  • Samuel N. Cheuvront

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Body Fluids
  • Body Temperature
  • Cognition
  • Depression
  • Environment
  • Hydration
  • Medical Personnel
  • Musculoskeletal Physiology
  • Neurobehavioral Manifestations
  • Neuroimaging
  • Physiology
  • Psychology
  • Reaction Time
  • Reasoning
  • Sensation
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Thermal Stresses

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.