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Cited by 40Thermoregulation and physiological responsesCardiovascular and exercise physiologyExercise and Physiological Responses

Elevated brain temperature under severe heat exposure impairs cortical motor activity and executive function

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Tan, Xiang Ren, Stephenson, Mary C., Alhadad, Sharifah Badriyah, Loh, Kelvin W.Z., Soong, Tuck Wah, Lee, Jason K.W., Low, Ivan C.C.·2024·Journal of Sport and Health Science
DOI 10.1016/j.jshs.2023.09.001PMC PMC10980903
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Abstract

Excessive heat exposure can lead to hyperthermia in humans, which impairs physical performance and disrupts cognitive function. While heat is a known physiological stressor, it is unclear how severe heat stress affects brain physiology and function. Eleven healthy participants were subjected to heat stress from prolonged exercise or warm water immersion until their rectal temperatures (Tre) attained 39.5°C, inducing exertional or passive hyperthermia, respectively. In a separate trial, blended ice was ingested before and during exercise as a cooling strategy. Data were compared to a control condition with seated rest (normothermic). Brain temperature (Tbr), cerebral perfusion, and task-based brain activity were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Tbr in motor cortex was found to be tightly regulated at rest (37.3°C ± 0.4°C) despite fluctuations in Tre. With the development of hyperthermia, Tbr increases and dovetails with the rising Tre. Bilateral motor cortical activity was suppressed during high-intensity plantarflexion tasks, implying a reduced central motor drive in hyperthermic participants (mean Tre: 38.5°C ± 0.1°C). Global gray matter perfusion and regional perfusion in sensorimotor cortex were reduced with passive hyperthermia. Executive function was poorer under a passive hyperthermic state, and this could relate to compromised visual processing as indicated by the reduced activation of left lateral-occipital cortex. Conversely, ingestion of blended ice before and during exercise alleviated the rise in both Tre and Tbr and mitigated heat-related neural perturbations. Severe heat exposure elevates Tbr, disrupts motor cortical activity and executive function, and this can lead to impairment of physical and cognitive performance.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Tan, X. R., Stephenson, M. C., Alhadad, S. B., Loh, K. W. Z., Soong, T. W., Lee, J. K. W., & Low, I. C. C.
Affiliations
National University of Singapore (SG)
Corresponding author
  • Lee, Jason K.W.
  • Low, Ivan C.C.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Sport and Health Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2024-03
Volume
13
Issue
2
Pages
233-244
ISSN
  • 2213-2961 (ISSN-L)
  • 2095-2546
DOI
10.1016/j.jshs.2023.09.001
PMC
PMC10980903
OpenAlex
W4386531236
Cited by
40
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 6
FWCI
6.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of sport and health science/Journal of Sport and Health Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Ministry of Defence
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
hyperthermia, heat stress, brain temperature, motor cortex, executive function, cerebral perfusion, sensorimotor cortex, plantar flexion, ice ingestion, cooling strategies, rectal temperature, visual processing, cognitive impairment, prolonged exercise, warm water immersion
MeSH terms
Body Temperature, Brain, Fever, Humans, Ice, Temperature, Exercise, Heat Stress Disorders, Executive Function

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