Gender differences in thermal comfort and mental performance at different vertical air temperatures.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a thermal environment where air temperature closer to the ground was lower compared to that above on thermal comfort and mental performance in both sexes. Temperatures at the upper and lower parts of the body were controlled independently using a climatic box placed in a climatic chamber. Sixteen healthy subjects (8 males and 8 females) were exposed to the four conditions with various temperature differences between the upper (25 degrees C) and lower part of the body (16, 19, 22, or 25 degrees C). Skin temperature and subjective votes were measured, and two kinds of task using a computer were performed during exposure. Skin temperature on the back for females was higher than that for males during exposure, and the decrease in thigh skin temperature for females under lower air temperature conditions was significantly larger than that for males. A significant difference in thermal comfort at the beginning of the exposure was indicated between genders, especially in the 16 and 19 degrees C conditions, so females became aware of thermal discomfort before males. Although the score of mental performance based on perceptual speed for females was higher than that for males, there was no significant effect from the different vertical air temperatures. The effect of the unequal thermal environment, where air temperature closer to the ground was lower than above, on skin temperature and thermal discomfort for females was significantly higher compared to males.
Hashiguchi
Nobuko
N
Department of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. n-hashi@design.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Feng
Yue
Y
Tochihara
Yutaka
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000388:Air; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008 Mar;102(4):471-80
17994246
Am J Cardiol. 1999 Jul 15;84(2):214-8
10426343
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1985 Jan;58(1):180-6
3968009
J Appl Physiol (1985). 1998 Aug;85(2):543-53
9688732
Circ Res. 1982 Jun;50(6):805-11
6282493
Ergonomics. 1986 Jan;29(1):131-43
3948840
J Vasc Res. 2000 May-Jun;37(3):183-8
10859476
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1993 Mar;64(3 Pt 1):206-11
8447801
Am J Hum Biol. 2007 Mar-Apr;19(2):155-64
17286263
Ann Emerg Med. 1995 Jan;25(1):15-20
7802365
Int J Hyperthermia. 2003 May-Jun;19(3):355-72
12745975
J Appl Physiol (1985). 2000 May;88(5):1643-9
10797125
Aviat Space Environ Med. 2005 Oct;76(10):954-62
16235879