Science now really sheds light on the deterioration of cognitive performance caused by high temperatures. For example, a study was conducted two years ago in Iran with petrochemical workers. The objective of the researchers was to assess the risks incurred by these men. Three groups of workers including a witness worked 12 hours in a row in front of an oven: tests of reflexes, concentration were made at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of their shift. And over the hours, we saw the omissions and errors increase with body temperature. “possibly leading to accidents” say these academics from Kerman. “Heat stress also impairs working memory, information storage and processing.”
This can apply to any type of business. The authors also cite firefighting in hot environments, where again cognitive performance and decision-making are impaired, they say.
The night temperature plays an essential role. This time, it is a study carried out with around forty students from Boston University in 2016 which establishes it. Half of the students were grouped together in an air-conditioned building at 21.5°C, the other half was not (at 26.5°C). Significant deficits in cognitive functions appear in those who sleep with nocturnal temperatures that do not drop. On basic arithmetic tests, their performance is 13% lower and their rate of correct answers per minute 10% lower.
From there to establishing that the fall in the success rate for the baccalaureate this year (almost three points less) is due to the heat wave in the examination rooms in June, there is a step that Professor Laurent Cohen does not cross, who is a neurologist at the Pitié-Salpêtrière who nevertheless notes the coincidence. But according to him, if the heat may have had a disruptive role, it is in the same way as fear or chronic pain. So many factors that prevent you from mobilizing your faculties for the work you are supposed to do.
What you can do when you still have to concentrate in high heat, we can never repeat it enough: hydrate! To drink ! Water as much as possible (coffee and alcohol dehydrate even more). Between 1.5 liters and two liters of water per day. And encourage the elderly to drink even when they no longer feel thirsty. Which is very common with the aging of the brain.
Never forget that our brain is made up of almost 80% water. Normally, breathing cools it down. But if it’s too hot for too long, dehydration directly affects the connections between nerve cells. With possible emotional consequences, headaches, impaired judgment or anxiety.
Obviously in the longer term, what is needed is to rethink housing, school buildings, put in place strategies for adapting to climate change to continue to make your brain work, even when it’s hot.