Frontal cortex cooling and modulation of brain frequencies using a wearable Peltier device

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Condensed matter, 2023-03, Vol.652, p.414641, Article 414641
• Main Authors: Mujib, Muhammad Danish, Rao, Ahmad Zahid, Hasan, Muhammad Abul, Ikhlaq, Ayesha, Buzdar, Saeed Ahmad, Qazi, Saad Ahmed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cooling; Electroencephalography (EEG); Heatstroke; Peltier; Stress; Usability
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2023.414641

Heatstroke occurs when brain's thermoregulation mechanism fails, resulting in hyperthermia leading to disability and death if untreated within first half hour. To prevent heatstroke, a temperature-controlled Peltier-based Wearable Head Cooling Device (WHCD) is developed for providing cooling to the frontal cortex region of the brain. Thirty volunteers tested WHCD in three groups for three 6-min trials with a 2-min resting period. Group A, B, and C were given stimulation with WHCD, noise, and WHCD with noise, respectively. Testing WHCD for perceived stress and usability, revealed a low stress score with an acceptable usability. Applying ANOVA and post-hoc analysis, the brain's power spectral density from electroencephalography found greatest increase in α-frequency and decrease in θ-frequency for group A, followed by group C, while group B indicated opposite change in both frequency bands. In conclusion, the WHCD can be effective for heatstroke prevention by modulating the brain to a relaxed state. •WHCD is a Peltier-based forehead rapid cooling device for heatstroke prevention.•Brain spectral power increase for α-frequency and decrease for θ-frequency with WHCD.•Volunteers report lowered stress and high usability with WHCD.