Heat Waves Impair Cognitive Function, Researchers Investigate

Extreme heat waves, such as the one recently impacting Western Europe, are causing significant cognitive impairment, prompting researchers to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The UK recorded its highest ever June temperature at 36.1 °C (97 °F) this week, with a felt temperature of 39 °C, far exceeding the 1991-2020 average June temperature of 19 °C in England. Beyond the immediate discomfort and potential for thousands of deaths across Europe, the heat's impact on mental faculties is a growing concern.

Cognitive psychologists are working to understand how rising temperatures affect the brain. While studies have shown associations between higher temperatures and increased irritability or violence, directly measuring the cognitive effects of heat waves is challenging. Catherine Thompson, a cognitive psychologist at Liverpool Hope University, is studying firefighters as a proxy, as their work involves controlled exposure to extreme heat.

Thompson's early findings indicate that firefighters experienced difficulty focusing and controlling their attention immediately following 15 minutes of intense heat exposure. Their cognitive skills returned to normal approximately 20 minutes after cooling down. This research, though in its early stages, provides empirical evidence for the attentional deficits observed by individuals experiencing heat waves. The long-term effects of prolonged heat exposure, however, remain an area requiring further investigation.