Seasonal effects of sleep deprivation on thermoregulatory responses in a hot environment.

Effects of sleep deprivation and season on thermoregulation during 60 min. of leg-bathing (water temperature of 42 degrees C, air temperature of 30 degrees C, and relative humidity of 70%) were studied in eight men who completed all 4 experiments for normal sleep and sleep deprivation in summer and winter. Rectal temperature (T(re)), skin temperature, total body sweating rate (M(sw-t)), local sweating rate on the back (M(sw-back)) and forearm (M(sw-forearm)), and skin blood flow on the back (SBF(back)) and forearm (SBF(forearm)) were measured.