The effect of a combined cooling intervention on cognitive function in the heat during an intermittent running protocol

Cowe, S, Cooper, S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5219-5020, Malcolm, R ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3494-3835, Hall, L ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4390-2903, Donkin, D and Sunderland, C ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7484-1345, 2024. The effect of a combined cooling intervention on cognitive function in the heat during an intermittent running protocol. European Journal of Sport Science. ISSN 1746-1391

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Abstract

Despite optimal cognitive function being essential for performance, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of combined cooling interventions on team sport athlete's cognitive function when exercising in the heat. In a randomised, crossover design, 12 unacclimatised men (age: 22.3 ± 3.0 years, body mass: 73.4 ± 5.1 kg, height: 181.0 ± 5.3 cm and mathematical equation max: 51.2 ± 9.5 mL/kg/min) participated in a control (CON) and combined cooling trial (ice slurry and ice collar; COOL). A battery of cognitive tests were completed prior to, during (at half-time) and following a 90-min intermittent running protocol in the heat (33°C, 50% relative humidity (RH)). Perceptual and physiological measures were taken throughout the protocol. In CON, response times were quicker on the Stroop task complex level (p = 0.002) and the visual search test complex level at full-time (p = 0.014) compared to COOL. During COOL, response times were quicker at half-time on the Stroop task complex level (p = 0.024) compared to CON. Lower rectal temperatures were seen during COOL (CON: 37.44 ± 0.65°C and COOL: 37.28 ± 0.68°C) as well as lower skin, neck and forehead temperatures (main effect of trial, all p < 0.05). Lower ratings of thermal sensation and perceived exertion and enhanced thermal comfort were recorded during COOL (main effect of trial, all p < 0.05). Whilst minimal differences in cognitive function were found when using the combined cooling intervention, the findings highlight a practical and effective strategy to improving many physiological and perceptual responses to intermittent exercise in the heat.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	European Journal of Sport Science
Creators:	Cowe, S., Cooper, S., Malcolm, R., Hall, L., Donkin, D. and Sunderland, C.
Publisher:	Wiley
Date:	8 August 2024
ISSN:	1746-1391
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1002/ejsc.12178 DOI 2198405 Other
Rights:	© 2024 the author(s). European Journal of Sport Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH on behalf of European College of Sport Science. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	21 Aug 2024 08:14
Last Modified:	21 Aug 2024 08:14
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/52057

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