Department of Health Science, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 May;109(1):41-8. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1158-7. Epub 2009 Aug 22.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a thermal environment where air temperature closer to the ground was lower compared to that above on thermal comfort and mental performance in both sexes. Temperatures at the upper and lower parts of the body were controlled independently using a climatic box placed in a climatic chamber. Sixteen healthy subjects (8 males and 8 females) were exposed to the four conditions with various temperature differences between the upper (25 degrees C) and lower part of the body (16, 19, 22, or 25 degrees C). Skin temperature and subjective votes were measured, and two kinds of task using a computer were performed during exposure. Skin temperature on the back for females was higher than that for males during exposure, and the decrease in thigh skin temperature for females under lower air temperature conditions was significantly larger than that for males. A significant difference in thermal comfort at the beginning of the exposure was indicated between genders, especially in the 16 and 19 degrees C conditions, so females became aware of thermal discomfort before males. Although the score of mental performance based on perceptual speed for females was higher than that for males, there was no significant effect from the different vertical air temperatures. The effect of the unequal thermal environment, where air temperature closer to the ground was lower than above, on skin temperature and thermal discomfort for females was significantly higher compared to males.
本研究旨在探讨与地面较接近的空气温度较低、而上方空气温度较高的热环境对两性热舒适和精神表现的影响。使用放置在气候室内的气候箱，分别独立控制身体上下部分的温度。将 16 名健康受试者（8 名男性和 8 名女性）暴露于四种不同的环境中，身体上下部分的温度差分别为 16、19、22 或 25°C。在暴露过程中测量皮肤温度和主观评分，并使用计算机执行两种任务。暴露过程中女性背部的皮肤温度高于男性，而女性在较低空气温度条件下大腿皮肤温度的下降明显大于男性。暴露开始时两性的热舒适度存在显著差异，特别是在 16 和 19°C 条件下，因此女性比男性更早感觉到热不适。虽然基于感知速度的女性精神表现评分高于男性，但垂直温差没有显著影响。与地面较接近的空气温度较低、而上方空气温度较高的不均匀热环境对女性皮肤温度和热不适的影响明显高于男性。
