Effects of heat stress on cognitive performance: the current state of knowledge
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This paper discusses the current state of knowledge on the effects of heat stress on cognitive performance. Although substantial research has been performed, it has proven difficult to describe the literature findings in a systematic manner. This is due to the large number of factors that come into play, such as task type, exposure duration, skill and acclimatization level of the individual and due to the absence of a concise theory on which experimental work can be based. However, two trends have been identified. First, heat stress affects cognitive performance differentially, depending on the type of cognitive task. Secondly, it appears that a relationship can be established between the effects of heat stress and deep body temperature. A number of exposure limits have been proposed during the last decades. These limits are summarized in this paper, with a special emphasis on the most recent one derived by Hancock and Vasmatzidis. This limit, which employs an attentional resource approach, defines exposure duration thresholds as parallel lines. Although this approach appears to be the most promising thus far, it is concluded that much remains to be understood before a limit becomes universally acceptable.
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Physical work capacity is taken into account in international and national standards for heat protection at work, but cognitive or psychological performance effects are considered primarily in terms of human comfort.
“Physical work capacity is taken into account in international and national standards for heat protection at work (64), but cognitive or psychological performance effects are considered primarily in terms of human comfort (29).”
From Heat, Human Performance, and Occupational Health: A Key Issue for the Assessment of Global Climate Change Impacts (2016) · cites this paper as [29]
The Introduction (page unavailable) says occupational heat-exposure standards are based fundamentally on medical and physiological criteria, supporting the implication that cognitive performance is not a primary basis for those standards. It does not say that cognitive or psychological effects are considered primarily in terms of human comfort; that part of the clause cited to this paper is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDehydration may diminish cognitive performance and increase perceived exertion.
“Dehydration may also diminish cognitive performance [11, 118] and increase perceived exertion [119].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing (2019) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Hancock, P. A., & Vasmatzidis, I.
- Affiliations
- University of Central Florida (US)
- Pershing Technology Group, One Pershing Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07311, USA
- ORCID
- Hancock, P. A.
- Venue
- International Journal of Hyperthermia
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2003-01-01
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 355-372
- ISSN
- 0265-6736 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-5157
- OpenAlex
- W1696484305
- Cited by
- 512
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 0.68
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Hyperthermia (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Keywords
- heat stress, cognitive performance, heat acclimatization, deep body temperature, exposure limits, attentional resources, task type, exposure duration, occupational heat exposure
- MeSH terms
- Cognition, Humans, Task Performance and Analysis, Heat Stress Disorders
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