Abstract
The behavioural responses available to humans are far more effective than their physiological mechanisms for dealing with thermal discomfort and imbalance. These behavioural responses are typically directed by an individual’s perception of the thermal environment. Whilst perception of the environment is a holistic amalgamation of human senses, there is some evidence that humans prioritise visual information over other senses. There is historical and contemporary evidence exploring the relationship between visual manipulations and thermal perception, but this evidence is limited to ambient environmental temperatures. Therefore, this thesis explores the effect of (in)congruent visual manipulations on thermal perception during rest and exercise in the heat.This thesis comprises a published structured narrative review, three empirical investigations, and a descriptive qualitative chapter. The structured narrative review summarised the literature examining the effects of visual manipulations on thermal perception. In total 31 experiments, consisting of 1392 participants, were included within the review. The findings provided evidence for visual manipulations altering thermal perception. However, methodological heterogeneity was observed in the assessment of thermal perception, and manipulation of vision. Specifically, there were variations in most measures of thermal perception. There was variation in ambient conditions and physiological variables within the reviewed literature. It is unclear what impact this heterogeneity has on the current literature.
The empirical studies in this thesis addressed three of the methodological limitations found within the structured narrative review. Namely, exploring this effect in hot ambient temperatures, using virtual reality (VR), and on exercising participants. For all experiments it was hypothesised that an incongruent cold environment presented through VR would cause a decrease in thermal perception, when compared to a congruent hot environment presented through VR, or no VR. All experiments had the same three interventions, an incongruent cold environment shown through VR, a congruent hot environment shown through VR, and a no VR condition. In the first empirical study participants (N = 16) exercised at a fixed intensity on a cycle ergometer in 35 °C. The second study (N = 12) had participant’s at rest engaging in a sham cognitive task in 40 °C. The third study (N = 12) had participants complete a fixed-RPE protocol to explore any influence on thermoregulation, again in 35 °C. In addition to the key perceptual measures of thermal comfort, and thermal sensation, a multitude of other measurements were recorded including rectal temperature, heart rate, and blood plasma cortisol. Time effects were continuously observed for recorded variables across all three experiments, however no condition effect was observed for any. Additionally, participants were interviewed after the final experiment. This helped understand their decisions and thinking, and added weight to the complexity of thermal perception.
Together, these novel and rigorous studies demonstrated that there was no evidence of manipulating an individual’s thermal perception, or any other thermopsychophysiological variables using VR whilst in hot environments. Additionally, this novel research suggests that there are limited detriments in utilising VR in hot environments, however future research should attempt to confirm this.
| Date of Award | 26 Jun 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Joe Costello (Supervisor) & Martina Navarro (Supervisor) |