Research article - (2021)20, 69 - 76
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2021.69
Head Cooling Prior to Exercise in the Heat Does Not Improve Cognitive Performance
Nur Shakila Mazalan1,3,, Grant Justin Landers1, Karen Elizabeth Wallman1, Ullrich Ecker2
1School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sports Science), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
2School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
3Faculty of Education, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Nur Shakila Mazalan
✉ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sports Science), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
Email: nurshakila.mazalan@research.uwa.edu.au
Received: 20-07-2020 -- Accepted: 16-11-2020
Published (online): 01-03-2021

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effectiveness of head cooling on cognitive performance after 30 min and 60 min of running in the heat. Ten moderately-trained, non-heat-acclimated, male endurance athletes (mean age: 22 ± 6.6 y; height: 1.78 ± 0.10 m; body-mass: 75.7 ± 15.6 kg; VO2peak: 51.6 ± 4.31 mL-1>kg-1>min) volunteered for this study. Participants performed two experimental trials: head cooling versus no-cooling (within-subjects factor with trial order randomized). For each trial, participants wore a head-cooling cap for 15 min with the cap either cooled to 0°C (HC) or not cooled (22°C; CON). Participants then completed 2 × 30 min running efforts on a treadmill at 70% VO2peak in hot conditions (35°C, 70% relative humidity), with a 10 min rest between efforts. Working memory was assessed using an operation span (OSPAN) task immediately prior to the 15 min cooling/no-cooling period (22°C, 35% RH) and again after 30 min and 60 min of running in the heat. Numerous physiological variables, including gastrointestinal core temperature (Tc) were assessed over the protocol. Scores for OSPAN were similar between trials, with no interaction effect or main effects for time and trial found (p = 0.58, p = 0.67, p = 0.54, respectively). Forehead temperature following precooling was lower in HC (32.4 ± 1.6°C) compared with CON (34.5 ± 1.1°C) (p = 0.01), however, no differences were seen in Tc, skin temperature, heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion between HC and CON trials at any time point assessed (p > 0.05). In conclusion, despite HC reducing forehead temperature prior to exercise, it did not significantly improve cognitive performance during (half-time break) or after subsequent exercise in hot environmental conditions, compared to a no cooling control.

Key words: Running, precooling, thermoregulation, cognitive execution

Key Points
  • Wearing a cooling cap for 15 min significantly reduced forehead temperature compared to baseline, as well as compared to a no-cooling control.
  • Despite forehead temperature being significantly lower after cooling, forehead temperatures were similar between the cooling and no-cooling trials during exercise in a hot environmental chamber.
  • Cooling the forehead prior to exercise in the heat did not improve subsequent cognitive performance assessed midway and after exercise.








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