Table 2.

The effects of passive heat stress on cognitive function.

Author and date	Environment (temperature)	Duration	Cognitive assessment tool	Physiological response	Cognitive alterations
Gaoua et al., 2012	50°C, 30% r.h.	15 min	Reaction time and task planning	Tc not elevated. Tsk elevated by ~3°C.	Decreased accuracy in task planning. Subjects took more time (41% increase) to find correct response.
Liu et al., 2013	50°C, 40% r.h.	45 min	Attention Network Test	Tc elevated to 38.5°C. Tsk not reported.	Impaired executive function.
Lenzuni et al., 2014	53.3–66.9°C	15–20 min	Driving in a straight line, and identifying a cue and reacting correctly	Tc elevated by ~0.3°C. Tsk not reported.	Impaired cognitive function in both simple and complex tasks ~50%
Berg et al., 2015	26°C	30 min	Peg transfer and intracoporeal knot tying	None reported	None despite reduced thermal comfort
Watkins et al., 2014	30°C, 50% r.h.	90 min with 15 min normothermic exposure at half-way	Dual task (tracking + simple reaction) and numerical vigilance	Tc elevated by ~0.2°C. Tsk elevated by ~4°C.	None
Gaoua et al., 2011	50°C, 50% r.h.	45 min	Attention and memory tests	Tc elevated to 38.6°C. Tsk elevated to 39.6°C.	Attention not impaired but memory impaired
Racinais et al., 2008	50°C, 50% r.h.	15 min walk at 3–5 km/h. Followed by 45 min passive exposure.	Attention, working and visual memory	Tc elevated to 38.8°C. Tsk elevated to 39°C.	Attention not impaired but working and visual memory impaired
Sun et al., 2012	50°C, 40% r.h.	60 min	Attention Network Test	Tc elevated to 38.4°C	Impaired executive function
Wijayanto et al., 2013	42°C	45 min	Short term memory	Delta Tc elevated by 0.31°C	None
Simmons et al., 2008	45°C, 50% r.h.	Until Tc increased by 1°C. (Time unknown)	Reaction time and numerical vigilance	Tc elevated by 1°C. Tsk elevated by 6°C.	Faster reaction time but reduced accuracy