University students' cognitive performance under temperature cycles induced by direct load control events
Open accessAbstract
As one of the most common strategies for managing peak electricity demand, direct load control (DLC) of air-conditioners involves cycling the compressors on and off at predetermined intervals. In university lecture theaters, the implementation of DLC induces temperature cycles which might compromise university students' learning performance. In these experiments, university students' learning performance, represented by four cognitive skills of memory, concentration, reasoning, and planning, was closely monitored under DLC-induced temperature cycles and control conditions simulated in a climate chamber. In Experiment 1 with a cooling set point temperature of 22°C, subjects' cognitive performance was relatively stable or even slightly promoted by the mild heat intensity and short heat exposure resulting from temperature cycles; in Experiment 2 with a cooling set point of 24°C, subjects' reasoning and planning performance observed a trend of decline at the higher heat intensity and longer heat exposure. Results confirm that simpler cognitive tasks are less susceptible to temperature effects than more complex tasks; the effect of thermal variations on cognitive performance follows an extended-U relationship with performance being relatively stable across a range of temperatures. DLC appears to be feasible in university lecture theaters if DLC algorithms are implemented judiciously.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Evidence of the effects of extreme heat also stems from controlled, laboratory chambers with experimental temperature regimes.
“Evidence of the effects of extreme heat also stems from controlled, laboratory chambers with experimental temperature regimes [20–22].”
From Reduced cognitive function during a heat wave among residents of non-air-conditioned buildings: An observational study of young adults in the summer of 2016 (2018) · cites this paper as [21]
The Climate chamber and Conditions tested sections describe controlled laboratory exposures with experimental temperature cycles. The Two general trends section reports declines in some cognitive skills in the warmer experiment, but explicitly calls its 23.0–31.5°C temperature range “only moderately elevated.” The paper therefore supports the laboratory-chamber evidence, not the characterization of its tested heat as extreme. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHealth effects of extreme heat events can be experienced in the general population, resulting in subclinical symptoms, like cognitive function deficits.
“Yet the health effects of extreme heat events can be experienced in the general population, resulting in subclinical symptoms, like cognitive function deficits [16,21,26].”
From Reduced cognitive function during a heat wave among residents of non-air-conditioned buildings: An observational study of young adults in the summer of 2016 (2018) · cites this paper as [21]
The Conclusions and Two general trends sections report declines in reasoning and planning performance among university students during the warmer, longer indoor temperature cycles. The paper does not establish health effects of extreme heat events in the general population; its experiments involved moderately elevated indoor temperatures and a narrower study population. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredA U-shaped response curve has been utilized to describe how exposures to extremely low or high temperatures result in decreased cognitive performance.
“A U-shaped response curve has been utilized to describe how exposures to extremely low or high temperatures result in decreased cognitive performance [16,21,27].”
From Reduced cognitive function during a heat wave among residents of non-air-conditioned buildings: An observational study of young adults in the summer of 2016 (2018) · cites this paper as [21]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Specific impairments of planning
Shallice, T. (1982) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. B, Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.1982.0082 · Cited by 3,741 · see citing works
The g factor: the science of mental ability
(1998) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.36-2443 · Cited by 2,760 · see citing works
Why g matters: The complexity of everyday life
Gottfredson, L. S. (1997) · Intelligence · doi:10.1016/s0160-2896(97)90014-3 · Cited by 1,408 · see citing works
Kuncel, N., Hezlett, S. A., & Ones, D. (2004) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.86.1.148 · Cited by 902 · see citing works
A Dynamic Model of Stress and Sustained Attention
Hancock, P. A. (1989) · Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1177/001872088903100503 · Cited by 874 · see citing works
The functional equivalence of problem solving skills
Simon, H. A. (1975) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1016/0010-0285(75)90012-2 · Cited by 737 · see citing works
Thermoreception and temperature regulation
Hensel, H. (1991) · General Pharmacology The Vascular System · doi:10.1016/0306-3623(91)90495-r · Cited by 630 · see citing works
Spengler, J. D., McCarthy, J. F., & Samet, J. M. (2000) · Cited by 568 · see citing works
Progress in thermal comfort research over the last twenty years
de Dear, R., AKIMOTO, T., Arens, E. A., Brager, G. S., Cândido, C., Cheong, D. K. W., Li, B., Nishihara, N., Sekhar, C., Tanabe, S., et al. (2013) · Indoor Air · doi:10.1111/ina.12046 · Cited by 524 · see citing works
Effects of heat stress on cognitive performance: the current state of knowledge
Hancock, P. A., & Vasmatzidis, I. (2003) · International Journal of Hyperthermia · doi:10.1080/0265673021000054630 · Cited by 512 · see citing works
Effects of hot and cold temperature exposure on performance: a meta-analytic review
Pilcher, J. J., Nadler, E. D., & Busch, C. (2002) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140130210158419 · Cited by 504 · see citing works
Quantitative measurement of productivity loss due to thermal discomfort
Lan, L., Wargocki, P., & Lian, Z. (2011) · Energy and Buildings · doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.09.001 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
A Meta-Analysis of Performance Response Under Thermal Stressors
Hancock, P. A., Ross, J. M., & Szalma, J. L. (2007) · Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1518/001872007x230226 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
Fractionating Human Intelligence
Hampshire, A., Highfield, R. R., Parkin, B. L., & Owen, A. M. (2012) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2012.06.022 · Cited by 399 · see citing works
Schellen, L., Van Marken Lichtenbelt, W. D., Loomans, M. G. L. C., Toftum, J., & De Wit, M. H. (2010) · Indoor Air · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00657.x · Cited by 377 · see citing works
Influence of indoor air temperature on human thermal comfort, motivation and performance
Cui, W., Cao, G., Park, J. H., Ouyang, Q., & Zhu, Y. (2013) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.06.012 · Cited by 358 · see citing works
Fowlkes, W. Y., & Creveling, C. M. (1995) · International Linear Collider · Cited by 356 · see citing works
Roelofsen, P. (2002) · Journal of Facilities Management · doi:10.1108/14725960310807944 · Cited by 354 · see citing works
Lubinski, D. (2000) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.405 · Cited by 321 · see citing works
Some Quantitative Relations between Indoor Environmental Quality and Work Performance or \nHealth
Seppänen, O., & Fisk, W. J. (2006) · eScholarship (California Digital Library) · Cited by 314 · see citing works
Environmental ergonomics: a review of principles, methods and models
Parsons, K. (2000) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/s0003-6870(00)00044-2 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
Rovai, A. P., Wighting, M. J., Baker, J. D., & Grooms, L. D. (2008) · The Internet and Higher Education · doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.10.002 · Cited by 287 · see citing works
Lan, L., Lian, Z., & Pan, L. (2010) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2010.04.003 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
A physiological criterion for setting thermal environmental limits for everyday work
LIND, A. R. (1963) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/jappl.1963.18.1.51 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Determining lines of equal comfort
Houghten, F. C. (1923) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 231 · see citing works
Assessment of productivity loss in air-conditioned buildings using PMV index
Kosonen, R., & Tan, F. (2004) · Energy and Buildings · doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2004.06.021 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Collins, P., Roberts, A., Dias, R. S., Everitt, B. J., & Robbins, T. W. (1998) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/089892998562771 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
Evolved mechanisms underlying wayfinding
SILVERMAN, I. W., Choi, J., MacKewn, A., Fisher, M. L., Moro, J., & Olshansky, E. (2000) · Evolution and Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/s1090-5138(00)00036-2 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Use of neurobehavioral tests to evaluate the effects of indoor environment quality on productivity
Lan, L., & Lian, Z. (2009) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2009.02.001 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
On the ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Okamoto, Y. (2005) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Literature review on thermal comfort in transient conditions
Hensen, J. L. M. (1990) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/0360-1323(90)90004-b · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Jensen, K. L., Toftum, J., & Friis-Hansen, P. (2008) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.04.008 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Cost avoidance and productivity in owning and operating buildings.
Woods, J. E. (1990) · PubMed · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Arthur Jensen: Consensus and controversy
Lynn, R. (1988) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/0191-8869(88)90114-6 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Acute cold exposure and cognitive function: evidence for sustained impairment
Muller, M. D., Gunstad, J., Alosco, M. L., Miller, L. A., Updegraff, J. A., Spitznagel, M. B., & Glickman, E. L. (2012) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140139.2012.665497 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Thermoreception and temperature regulation
(1991) · Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Physiology · doi:10.1016/0300-9629(91)90550-v · Cited by 107 · see citing works
WARMTH AND PERFORMANCE : AN INVESTIGATION IN THE TROPICS
PEPLER, R. D. (1958) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140135808930403 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
From the Inverted-U to the Extended-U: The Evolution of a Law of Psychology
Hancock, P. A., & Ganey, H. C. N. (2003) · Human performance in extreme environments · doi:10.7771/2327-2937.1023 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Influence of dynamic environment with different airflows on human performance
Cui, W., Cao, G., Ouyang, Q., & Zhu, Y. (2013) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.01.008 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Qian, S., Li, M., Li, G., Liu, K., Li, B., Jiang, Q., Li, L., Yang, Z., & Sun, G. (2014) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2014.11.036 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Performance and Thermal Comfort
Griffiths, I. D., & Boyce, P. R. (1971) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140137108931266 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Kolařík, J., Toftum, J., Olesen, B. W., & Shitzer, A. (2009) · Science and Technology for the Built Environment · doi:10.1080/10789669.2009.10390873 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Worker performance and ventilation: Analyses of individual data for call-center workers
Federspiel, C. C., Liu, G., Lahiff, M., et al. (2002) · doi:10.2172/795377 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
INITIAL STIMULATING EFFECT OF WARMTH UPON PERCEPTUAL EFFICIENCY.
Poulton, E. C., & Kerslake, D. M. (1965) · PubMed · Cited by 47 · see citing works
THERMAL COMFORT AND PRODUCTIVITY
McCartney, K., & Humphreys, M. T. (2002) · Cited by 46 · see citing works
VISUAL AND AUDITORY VIGILANCE DURING EXPOSURE TO HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS
Bell, C. R., Provins, K. A., & Hiorns, R. W. (1964) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140136408930747 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Zhang, F., & de Dear, R. (2014) · Energy and Buildings · doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.10.008 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Self-citationVigilance Under Induced Hyperthermia
Colquhoun, W. P., & Goldman, R. F. (1972) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140137208924463 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Nunneley, S. A., Dowd, P. J., Myhre, L. G., Stribley, R. F., & McNee, R. C. (1979) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140137908924639 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
EFFECTS OF ELEVATED TEMPERATURES ON PERFORMANCE OF A COMPLEX MENTAL TASK
Chiles, W. D. (1958) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/00140135808930404 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Effects of raised ambient temperature and event rate on vigilance performance.
Wp, C. (1969) · PubMed · Cited by 29 · see citing works
The effects of ambient temperature swings on comfort, performance and behaviour.
Wyon, D. P. (1973) · PubMed · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Effects of d-Amphetamine Sulfate, Caffeine, and High Temperature on Human Performance
Lovingood, B. W., Blyth, C. S., Peacock, W. H., et al. (1967) · Research Quarterly American Association for Health Physical Education and Recreation · doi:10.1080/10671188.1967.10614804 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
de Dear, R., Nathwani, A., Cândido, C., et al. (2012) · Architectural Science Review · doi:10.1080/00038628.2012.745807 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
The Importance of General Intelligence
Brand, C. J. (2005) · doi:10.4324/9780203975848-36 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Limits of behavioral efficiency for workers in heat stress
Hancock, P. A., & Vercruyssen, M. (1988) · International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/0169-8141(88)90016-9 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Newsham, G. R., Donnelly, C., Mancini, S., Marchand, R. G., Lei, W., Charles, K., & Veitch, J. A. (2006) · NPARC · Cited by 12 · see citing works
de Dear, R., Arens, E., Cândido, C., et al. (2014) · Indoor Air · doi:10.1111/ina.12106 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- [40]40. McCartney, K.J. and Humphreys, M.A. (2002) Thermal comfort and productiv- ity, In: Levin, H., Bendy, G., and Cordell, J. (eds) Proceedings of Indoor Air 2002, Monterey, CA, USA, The International Academy of Indoor Air Sciences, 822- 827.
- [54]54. Sepp€ anen, O.A., Fisk, W.J. and Faulkner, D. (2003) Cost benefit analysis of the night-time ventilative cooling, In: Kwok Wai, T., Sekhar, C., and Cheong, D. (eds) Proceedings of the Healthy Buildings 2003 Conference, Singapore, Vol. 3, National University of Singapore, Singa- pore, Stallion Press, 394-399.
- [59]59. Witterseh, T.. (2001) Environmental per- ception, SBS symptoms and perfor- mance of office work under combined exposure to temperature, noise and air pollution. Ph.D. dissertation. Interna- tional Center for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark.
- [61]61. Wyon, D.P., Bruun, N.O., Olesen, P., Kjerulf-Jensen, P. and Fanger, P.O. (1971) Factors affecting the subjective tolerance of ambient temperature swings, In: Salmark, H. (ed) Proceed- ings of the 5th International Congress for Heating, Ventilating and Air Condi- tioning, Vol. 1, Copenhagen, Danish Technical Press, 87-107.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Cedeño Laurent, J. G., Williams, A., Oulhote, Y., Zanobetti, A., Allen, J. G., & Spengler, J. D. (2018) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002605 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Thermal comfort of heterogeneous and dynamic indoor conditions — An overview
Mishra, A. K., Loomans, M. G. L. C., & Hensen, J. L. M. (2016) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.09.016 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
- Authors
- Zhang, F., & de Dear, R.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory; Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning; The University of Sydney; Sydney NSW Australia
- Corresponding author
- Zhang, F.
- ORCID
- Zhang, F.
- Venue
- Indoor Air
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-04-06
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78-93
- ISSN
- 0905-6947 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2289540775
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 5.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Indoor Air (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Sydney-China Scholarship Council Postgraduate Research Scholarship
- University of Sydney (2014/034)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Keywords
- direct load control, thermal cycling, cognitive performance, university students, heat exposure, thermal comfort, memory, concentration, reasoning, planning
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Air Conditioning, Cognition, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Middle Aged, Students, Temperature, Universities, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
