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The effects of face cooling during hyperthermic exercise in man: evidence for an integrated thermal, neuroendocrine and behavioural response
Author(s) -
Mündel Toby,
Bunn Sabrina J.,
Hooper Paula L.,
Jones David A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.2006.034934
Subject(s) - neuroscience , thermoregulation , face (sociological concept) , psychology , medicine , social science , sociology
The present study investigated whether face cooling reduced both the perceived exertion (RPE) and prolactin (PRL) release during hyperthermic exercise. Ten, non‐heat‐acclimated males (23 ± 2 years; maximal oxygen consumption, 56 ± 7 ml kg –1 min –1 [mean ± s.d. ]) exercised for 40 min on a cycle ergometer at 65% of their peak aerobic power, at an ambient temperature of 33°C (27% relative humidity) with (FC) and without face cooling as a control (CON). With FC, forehead temperature was maintained ∼6°C lower than CON, while other skin sites were similar or slightly warmer in the FC condition. Rectal temperature increased by ∼1.5°C with the same time course in both conditions. A relative bradycardia was observed during FC, with heart rate approximately 5 beats min –1 lower than CON ( P < 0.05). Mean plasma lactate was lower during FC (FC, 5.0 ± 0.3 mmol l –1 ; CON, 5.9 ± 0.3 mmol l –1 ; P < 0.05) but no differences were observed for plasma glucose, which remained constant during exercise. Levels of PRL were maintained at 175 ± 17 mIU l –1 during exercise for FC, while values for CON increased to a peak of 373 ± 22 mIU l –1 so that towards the end of the exercise, for the same rectal temperature, PRL was significantly lower in the FC condition ( P < 0.05). Global and breathing RPE were reduced but only towards the end of the 40 min of exercise during FC, whilst subjective thermal comfort was significantly lower during FC ( P < 0.05). We confirm the substantial effect that FC has on the secretion of PRL during hyperthermic exercise but show that it makes a relatively small contribution to the perception of effort when compared to the effect of a cool total skin area as occurs with exercise in a thermoneutral environment.