Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hypohydration and acute thermal stress affect mood state but not cognition or dynamic postural balance

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Equivocal findings have been reported in the few studies that examined the impact of ambient temperature (T a) and hypohydration on cognition and dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of acute exposure to a range of ambient temperatures (T a 10–40 °C) in euhydration (EUH) and hypohydration (HYP) states on cognition, mood and dynamic balance. Thirty-two men (age 22 ± 4 years, height 1.80 ± 0.05 m, body mass 85.4 ± 10.8 kg) were grouped into four matched cohorts (n = 8), and tested in one of the four T a (10, 20, 30, 40 °C) when EUH and HYP (−4 % body mass via exercise–heat exposure). Cognition was assessed using psychomotor vigilance, 4-choice reaction time, matching to sample, and grammatical reasoning. Mood was evaluated by profile of mood states and dynamic postural balance was tested using a Biodex Balance System. Thermal sensation (TS), core (T core) and skin temperature (T sk) were obtained throughout testing. Volunteers lost −4.1 ± 0.4 % body mass during HYP. T sk and TS increased with increasing T a, with no effect of hydration. Cognitive performance was not altered by HYP or thermal stress. Total mood disturbance (TMD), fatigue, confusion, anger, and depression increased during HYP at all T a. Dynamic balance was unaffected by HYP, but 10 °C exposure impaired balance compared to all other T a. Despite an increase in TMD during HYP, cognitive function was maintained in all testing environments, demonstrating cognitive resiliency in response to body fluid deficits. Dynamic postural stability at 10 °C appeared to be hampered by low-grade shivering, but was otherwise maintained during HYP and thermal stress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam GE, Carter R III, Cheuvront SN et al (2008) Hydration effects on cognitive performance during military tasks in temperate and cold environments. Physiol Behav 93:748–756

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adolph EF and Associates (1947) Physiology of man in the desert. Intersciences, Inc, New York

  • Armstrong LE, Ganio MS, Casa DJ et al (2012) Mild dehydration affects mood in healthy young women. J Nutr 142:382–388

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baddeley AD (1968) A 3 minute reasoning test based on grammatical transformation. Psychon Sci 10:341–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton D (2011) Dehydration influences mood and cognition: a plausible hypothesis? Nutrients 3:555–573

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carter R 3rd, Cheuvront SN, Vernieuw CR, Sawka MN (2006) Hypohydration and prior heat stress exacerbates decreases in cerebral blood flow velocity during standing. J Appl Physiol 101(6):1744–1750

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheuvront SN, Carter R, Castellani JW et al (2005) Hypohydration impairs endurance exercise performance in temperate but not cold air. J Appl Physiol 99:1972–1976

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cian C, Barraud PA, Melin B et al (2001) Effects of fluid ingestion on cognitive function after heat stress or exercise-induced dehydration. Int J Psychophysiol 42:243–251

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cymerman A, Young AJ, Francis TJ et al (2002) Subjective symptoms and postural control during a disabled submarine simulation. Undersea Hyperb Med 29:204–215

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Derave W, De CD, Bouckaert J et al (1998) The influence of exercise and dehydration on postural stability. Ergonomics 41:782–789

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinges DF, Powell JW (1985) Microcomputer analyses of performance on a portable, simple visual RT task during sustained operations. Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput 17:652–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Engell DB, Maller O, Sawka MN et al (1987) Thirst and fluid intake following graded hypohydration levels in humans. Physiol Behav 40:229–236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gagge AP, Stolwijk JA, Saltin B (1969) Comfort and thermal sensations and associated physiological responses during exercise at various ambient temperatures. Environ Res 2:209–229

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ganio MS, Armstrong LE, Casa DJ et al (2011) Mild dehydration impairs cognitive performance and mood of men. Br J Nutr 106:1535–1543

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gauchard GC, Gangloff P, Vouriot A et al (2002) Effects of exercise-induced fatigue with and without hydration on static postural control in adult human subjects. Int J Neurosci 112:1191–1206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gopinathan PM, Pichan G, Sharma VM (1988) Role of dehydration in heat stress-induced variations in mental performance. Arch Environ Health 43:15–17

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grandjean AC, Grandjean NR (2007) Dehydration and cognitive performance. J Am Coll Nutr 26:549S–554S

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hancock PA, Vasmatzidis I (2003) Effects of heat stress on cognitive performance: the current state of knowledge. Int J Hyperthermia 19:355–372

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hinman M (2000) Factors affecting reliability of the Biodex Balance System: a summary of four studies. J Sport Rehabil 9:240–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Hocking C, Silberstein RB, Lau WM et al (2001) Evaluation of cognitive performance in the heat by functional brain imaging and psychometric testing. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 128:719–734

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenefick RW, Sawka MN (2007) Hydration at the work site. J Am Coll Nutr 26:597S–603S

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kenefick RW, Ely BR, Cheuvront SN et al (2009) Prior heat stress: effect on subsequent 15-min time trial performance in the heat. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41:1311–1316

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman HR (2007) Hydration and cognition: a critical review and recommendations for future research. J Am Coll Nutr 26:555S–561S

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman HR, Tharion WJ, Shukitt-Hale B et al (2002) Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during U.S. Navy SEAL training. Sea-Air-Land. Psychopharmacology 164:250–261

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman HR, Castellani JW, Young AJ (2009) Cognitive function and mood during acute cold stress after extended military training and recovery. Aviat Space Environ Med 80:629–636

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson M, Enbom H, Johansson R et al (1990a) Significance of pressor input from the human feet in anterior-posterior postural control. The effect of hypothermia on vibration-induced body-sway. Acta Otolaryngol 110:182–188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson M, Enbom H, Johansson R et al (1990b) Significance of pressor input from the human feet in lateral postural control. The effect of hypothermia on galvanically induced body-sway. Acta Otolaryngol 110:321–327

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Makinen TM, Rintamaki H, Korpelainen JT et al (2005) Postural sway during single and repeated cold exposures. Aviat Space Environ Med 76:947–953

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNair DM, Lorr M, Droppleman LF (1971) Profile of mood states manual. Educational and Industrial Testing Service, San Diego

  • Park I, Schutz RW (1999) “Quick and Easy” formulae for approximating statistical power in repeated measures ANOVA. Meas Phys Education Exerc Sci 4:249–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel AV, Mihalik JP, Notebaert AJ et al (2007) Neuropsychological performance, postural stability, and symptoms after dehydration. J Athl Train 42:66–75

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramanathan NL (1964) A new weighting system for mean surface temperature of the human body. J Appl Physiol 19:531–533

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsey JD, Dayal D, Ghahramani B (1975) Heat stress limits for the sedentary worker. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 36:259–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sawka MN, Burke LM, Eichner ER et al (2007) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39:377–390

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair RC, Mark MM (1995) The effects of mood state on judgemental accuracy: processing strategy as a mechanism. Cogn Emot 9:417–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stal F, Fransson PA, Magnusson M et al (2003) Effects of hypothermic anesthesia of the feet on vibration-induced body sway and adaptation. J Vestib Res 13:39–52

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szinnai G, Schachinger H, Arnaud MJ et al (2005) Effect of water deprivation on cognitive-motor performance in healthy men and women. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 289:275–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon HM (1928) Industrial fatigue in relation to atmospheric conditions. Physiol Rev 8:130–150

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson TE, Cui J, Zhang R, Crandall CG (2006) Heat stress reduces cerebral blood velocity and markedly impairs orthostatic tolerance in humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 291(5):R1443–R1448

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mary Pardee, Laura Palombo, and Michael Stanger for their technical assistance. We also thank the 32 research volunteers who participated in this study. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and should not be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Army the Department of Defense. The experiments comply with the present laws of the country in which they were performed.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Kansas St, Building 42, Natick, MA, 01760, USA

    Brett R. Ely, Kurt J. Sollanek, Samuel N. Cheuvront, Harris R. Lieberman & Robert W. Kenefick

Authors
  1. Brett R. Ely
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kurt J. Sollanek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Samuel N. Cheuvront
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Harris R. Lieberman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robert W. Kenefick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert W. Kenefick.

Additional information

Communicated by Fausto Baldissera.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ely, B.R., Sollanek, K.J., Cheuvront, S.N. et al. Hypohydration and acute thermal stress affect mood state but not cognition or dynamic postural balance. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 1027–1034 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2506-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2506-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation