Influence of Heat Exposure on Motor Control Performance and Learning as Well as Physiological Responses to Visuomotor Accuracy Tracking Task

Mao Aoki, Yudai Yamazaki, Junto Otsuka, Yumi Okamoto, Shota Takada, Nobu Shirai, Tomomi Fujimoto, Genta Ochi, Koya Yamashiro, Daisuke Sato and Tatsuro Amano ()
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Mao Aoki: Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Education, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
Yudai Yamazaki: Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry and Neuroendocrinology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City 305-8574, Japan
Junto Otsuka: Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Education, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
Yumi Okamoto: Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Education, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
Shota Takada: Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Education, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
Nobu Shirai: Department of Psychology, College of Contemporary Psychology, Rikkyo University, Saitama 352-8558, Japan
Tomomi Fujimoto: Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata 950-3198, Japan
Genta Ochi: Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata 950-3198, Japan
Koya Yamashiro: Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata 950-3198, Japan
Daisuke Sato: Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata 950-3198, Japan
Tatsuro Amano: Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Physiology, Faculty of Education, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-13

Abstract: This study aimed to determine whether heat exposure attenuates motor control performance and learning, and blunts cardiovascular and thermoregulatory responses to visuomotor accuracy tracking (VAT) tasks. Twenty-nine healthy young adults (22 males) were divided into two groups performing VAT tasks (5 trials × 10 blocks) in thermoneutral (NEUT: 25 °C, 45% RH, n = 14) and hot (HOT: 35 °C, 45% RH, n = 15) environments (acquisition phase). One block of the VAT task was repeated at 1, 2, and 4 h after the acquisition phase (retention phase). Heat exposure elevated skin temperature to ~3 °C with a marginally increased core body temperature. VAT performance (error distance of curve tracking) was more attenuated overall in HOT than in NEUT in the acquisition phase without improvement in magnitude alteration. Heat exposure did not affect VAT performance in the retention phase. The mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate, but not for sweating and cutaneous vascular responses to VAT acquisition trials, were more attenuated in HOT than in NEUT without any retention phase alternations. We conclude that skin temperature elevation exacerbates motor control performance and blunts cardiovascular response during the motor skill acquisition period. However, these alternations are not sustainable thereafter.

Keywords: motor memory; skill training; global warming; heat loss response (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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