[The impact of high indoor temperatures on cognitive performance within the work setting: a systematic review]

BACKGROUND: Workplace guidelines exclusively focus on the impact of high indoor temperatures on physical work. There are no concrete recommendations in this regard concerning mental work. AIM: To investigate to what extent high ambient temperatures can have an impact on cognitive performance within a work setting, which cognitive skills or tasks are impacted, and to what extent the results found can be transposed to the work setting of the psychiatrist. METHOD: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies were included. Although results were inconsistent, reaction time and processing speed appeared to be the most sensitive cognitive skills to elevated ambient temperatures. Higher cognitive functions such as logical and abstract reasoning were more resistant. The temperature range for optimal cognitive functioning generally appeared to be between 22°C and 24°C. CONCLUSION: Temperatures above 24°C can have a negative impact on cognitive performance within a work setting. Given that reaction speed and processing speed are particularly affected, this could possibly have an impact in the work setting of the psychiatrist when making crucial decisions. However, due to the limited ecological validity of the included studies, unequivocal conclusions remain difficult.

PMID: 37434569