Sex Differences in Pre-cooling Effect on Cognitive Processing Changes During Exercise in the Heat

Authors

Kristin N. Grabow, Texas A&M University - KingsvilleFollow
Amber M. Shipherd, Texas A & M University - KingsvilleFollow
Meral N. Culver, Texas A&M University - KingsvilleFollow
Christopher M. Hearon, Texas A&M University-KingsvilleFollow

Abstract

Cognitive processing (CP) declines during exercise are greater in the heat, but precooling (PC) prior to exercise in the heat can attenuate this decline. While males (M) and females (F) do not differ with regard to the impact of PC on thermoregulatory variables during exercise in the heat, F do demonstrate better perceptional values than M when using PC prior to exercise in the heat. Thus, if perceptional values potentially impact CP during exercise in the heat, then the PC impact on that response could differ between M and F. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare sex differences in PC impact on CP changes during exercise in the heat. METHODS: Physically active M (n=7) and F (n=6) participated in two trials [Vest Precooling (VPC), No Vest Precooling (NVPC)] in a balanced cross-over design. In each trial subjects completed tests for working memory capacity (WM) and informational processing speed (IP) in a thermoneutral environment. Next, they were asked to undergo 15 minutes of external precooling via a precooling vest (VPC, 6.5°C) or asked to rest without external precooling for 15 min (NVPC). Subjects then entered the heat chamber (32.5°C, 50% RH) and performed an intermittent sprint exercise bout on a cycle ergometer for 30 min broken down into 15 2-min segments: passive rest (10 sec), unloaded maximal sprint (5 sec, 0 kg, max rpm), loaded maximal sprint (5 sec, 7.5% body mass kg, max rpm), active recovery (100 sec, 1kg, 50 rpm). RPE (6-20) , thermal sensation (TS,-4 to +4), and thermal comfort (TC,-2 to +2) were measured at the end of the final sprint, and WM and IP were measured again with the subject still in the heat. RPE, TS, TC and changes in both WM (ΔWM, # of correct responses) and IP (ΔIP, # of correct responses) were analyzed between M/F (SEX) and across VPC/NVPC trials (COOL), α=0.05. RESULTS: No SEX x COOL interaction was observed for ΔWM (p=0.536) and ΔIP (p=0.977), suggesting that M and F did not differ with regard to the impact of PC on ΔWM (F VPC/NVPC= -3.3+5.4/-1.3+7.6; M VPC/NVPC= -1.6 + 5.7/-2.9+11.0), ΔIP (F VPC/NVPC= 1.0+2.3/0.5+3.6; M VPC/NVPC= 1.9 + 3.1/1.3+3.3) after exercise in the heat. Likewise, the SEX x COOL interaction was not significant for TS (p=0.349) and TC (p=0.876), but was for RPE (p=0.043) where F tended to have a lower RPE after the VPC bout compared to NVPC (F VPC/NVPC= 15.8+1.6/16.3+2.2) while M were the inverse (M VPC/NVPC= 16.9 + 2.4/15.7+1.5). CONCLUSION: Precooling effects on CP changes during exercise in the heat did not differ between M/F, suggesting that perceptual differences may be insufficient to influence CP under conditions of comparable thermoregulatory strain and concurrent attentional demands.

Recommended Citation

Grabow, Kristin N.; Shipherd, Amber M.; Culver, Meral N.; and Hearon, Christopher M. (2026) "Sex Differences in Pre-cooling Effect on Cognitive Processing Changes During Exercise in the Heat," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 18, Article 22.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/22