Changes in EEG activity before and after exhaustive exercise in sedentary women in neutral and hot environments

This study examined the effect of hyperthermia on brain electrical activity measured with encephalography during prolonged exhaustive exercise in a group of sedentary women (VO 2max = 35 ± 4 mL kg min −1). Two strenuous cycling exercises were performed either in neutral (N-Ex) or in heat (H-Ex) conditions. Tympanic temperature (Tty), heart rate (HR), body mass loss (BML), plasma volume decrease, and brain electrical activity [EEG: α (8–13 Hz) and β(13–30 Hz)-band and α/ β index of fatigue: the ratio between EEG activity in the α band and β-band] were recorded throughout the cycling sessions. The Tty increase 1.0 °C in the N-Ex and 1.8 °C in H-Ex. HR increased in both sessions but with significantly higher values during the H-Ex session when compared with the N-Ex session ( p