TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of repeated daily menthol exposure on human temperature regulation and perception
AU - Gillis, D. Jason
AU - Weston, Neil
AU - House, James R.
AU - Tipton, Michael J.
N1 - NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Physiology & Behavior. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Physiology & Behavior, [VOL139, (2015)] DOI 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.009
PY - 2015/2/1
Y1 - 2015/2/1
N2 - A single exposure to menthol can, depending on concentration, enhance both cool sensations and encourage body heat storage. This study tested whether there is an habituation in either response after repeated-daily exposures. Twenty-two participants were assigned to one of three spray groups: Control (CON; n = 6), 0.05% l-menthol (M0.05%; n = 8), and 0.2% l-menthol (M0.2%; n = 8). On Monday (20 °C, 50% rh) participants were sprayed with 100 mL of solution and undertook 40 min of cycling at 45% of their peak power (Ex1), from Tuesday to Thursday (30 °C, 50% rh) they were sprayed twice daily whilst resting (R1 to R6), Friday was a repeat of Monday (Ex2). Thermal sensation (TS), thermal comfort, perceived exertion, irritation, rectal and skin temperature (Tsk), skin blood flow (SkBF) and sweat rate were monitored. A two-way ANOVA (alpha = 0.05) compared responses from the beginning (Ex1, R1) and end (Ex2, R5) of the testing week. M0.2% induced significantly (P < 0.05) cooler TS at the beginning of the week (Ex1, R1) compared to the end (Ex2, R5), indicating habituation of TS; this was not observed in M0.05%. No other perceptual or physiological responses habituated. 0.2% Menthol caused a heat storage response, mediated by vasoconstriction, at the beginning and end of the week, suggesting the habituation of TS occurred in a pathway specific to sensation. In summary, the cooling influence of 0.2% menthol habituates after repeated-daily exposures, but with no habituation in heat storage.
AB - A single exposure to menthol can, depending on concentration, enhance both cool sensations and encourage body heat storage. This study tested whether there is an habituation in either response after repeated-daily exposures. Twenty-two participants were assigned to one of three spray groups: Control (CON; n = 6), 0.05% l-menthol (M0.05%; n = 8), and 0.2% l-menthol (M0.2%; n = 8). On Monday (20 °C, 50% rh) participants were sprayed with 100 mL of solution and undertook 40 min of cycling at 45% of their peak power (Ex1), from Tuesday to Thursday (30 °C, 50% rh) they were sprayed twice daily whilst resting (R1 to R6), Friday was a repeat of Monday (Ex2). Thermal sensation (TS), thermal comfort, perceived exertion, irritation, rectal and skin temperature (Tsk), skin blood flow (SkBF) and sweat rate were monitored. A two-way ANOVA (alpha = 0.05) compared responses from the beginning (Ex1, R1) and end (Ex2, R5) of the testing week. M0.2% induced significantly (P < 0.05) cooler TS at the beginning of the week (Ex1, R1) compared to the end (Ex2, R5), indicating habituation of TS; this was not observed in M0.05%. No other perceptual or physiological responses habituated. 0.2% Menthol caused a heat storage response, mediated by vasoconstriction, at the beginning and end of the week, suggesting the habituation of TS occurred in a pathway specific to sensation. In summary, the cooling influence of 0.2% menthol habituates after repeated-daily exposures, but with no habituation in heat storage.
U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.009
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.009
M3 - Article
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 139
SP - 511
EP - 518
JO - Physiology & Behavior
JF - Physiology & Behavior
ER -