An investigation of human mental and motor responses to heat stress

Abstract

An investigation into the physiological reactions of persons being artificially acclimatized to extreme heat conditions in an environmental chamber was conducted. While the subjects were being artificially acclimatized they performed low-skill tasks. Their performance was compared to that attained outside of the chamber after acclimatization. Parameters measured were pulse rate, oral temperature, decision making rate, time on target, and two different reaction times. Analysis of the extracted data indicated a correlation between the decision making task and the pursuit rotor task and showed that each of these was correlated with oral temperature. Also, results suggested that the process of artificial acclimatization had not adversely affected the abilities of the subjects to later perform in a "normal" environment.