Date of Completion

Spring 4-27-2022

Thesis Advisor(s)

Douglas Casa, Gabrielle Brewer

Honors Major

Physiology and Neurobiology

Disciplines

Biology | Cognitive Neuroscience | Exercise Science | Kinesiology | Sports Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Athletes, warfighters, and laborers are often exposed to extreme environmental conditions that can result in heat-related illnesses negatively impacting performance and productivity.

Purpose: To evaluate Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) from pre-trial to post-trial surrounding exercise in the heat. The secondary purpose was to compare post-trial measures between hydration status as well as environmental conditions.

Methods: Twenty-six male and female subjects performed four trials. Two trials were conducted in temperate conditions (24 ℃, 55% relative humidity) and two in extreme heat conditions (35 ℃, 55% relative humidity), in both hydrated and dehydrated conditions. The Profile of Moods States survey was administered before and after each trial; TMD was calculated for each timepoint. Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) were calculated, and Mann-Whitney U t-tests were utilized to compare TMD pre-trial vs. post-trial measures for each condition, post-trial hydrated vs. post-trial dehydrated for each environmental condition, and post-trial temperate vs. post-trial extreme heat for both hydration statuses.

Results: In the temperate hydrated, temperate dehydrated, and extreme heat dehydrated conditions, there were no significant differences between pre-trial and post-trial TMD (p=0.276; p=0.237; p=0.322). In the extreme heat hydrated condition, there were significant differences between pre-trial and post-trial TMD (p=0.049). There were no significant differences between post-trial TMD between environmental conditions or hydration statuses (p>0.05).

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