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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 91/6/1007    most recent expphysiol.2006.034629v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mündel, T. Articles by Jones, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mündel, T. Articles by Jones, D. A.

¹ Human Performance Laboratory, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK ² Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Hassall Road, Alsager, Cheshire ST7 2HL, UK

The purpose of the present study was twofold: first, to determine the extent to which elevated skin temperature is responsible for the hormonal and perceptual responses to passive heating; and second, to determine to what extent face-cooling can override the effects of raised skin temperature. Sixteen recreationally active, non-heat-acclimated volunteers (12 male, 4 female; age, 29 ± 9 years, [mean ± S.D.]) underwent a passive heat exposure for 60 min in a sauna maintained at 58°C (13% relative humidity), conditions under which sweating effectively maintains core temperature. Subjects were allocated to one of two experimental groups which were matched for sex, age, body mass index, body surface area and sweating response; one group received face cooling (FC) every 5 min, whilst the other control group (CON) received none. Mean skin temperatures were elevated by 4°C for the 60 min duration (CON, 36.5 ± 0.1°C; FC, 35.7 ± 0.1°C; P < 0.05) but core temperature rose by only 0.25°C with no difference between groups. Circulating prolactin remained stable and showed no increase for the FC group, whereas concentrations increased by 102 ± 34% (P < 0.05) for the CON group. No differences were observed between groups for heart rate, but the sensation of heat was less (P < 0.05) with FC. We suggest that a significant component of the prolactin response to moderate passive heating is mediated by facial skin temperature, and selective cooling of the face is associated with improved perception of thermal comfort. These results indicate that the temperature of only a small part of the total skin area (10%) has a disproportionately large effect on the hormonal and perceptual responses to heat stress.

(Received 1 June 2006; accepted after revision 15 August 2006; first published online 17 August 2006)
Corresponding author T. Mündel: Human Performance Laboratory, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. Email: t.mundel{at}bham.ac.uk

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