Why didn't this bull follow its fellow bulls? The heat may be to blame

High temperatures, exceeding **27 degrees** Celsius, can negatively affect the prefrontal cortex, impairing the ability to make rational and coherent decisions.

## The science behind heat and the brain

It seems that heat doesn't just make us sweat more, it can also play tricks on our minds. Studies suggest that when ambient temperature exceeds **27 degrees** Celsius, the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for planning, decision-making and impulse control, starts to perform worse. It is as if the heat weakens it, making our decisions more erratic and less thought-through.

## A matter of tradition or common sense?

In certain contexts, such as bullfighting in Spain, the inherent cruelty of the practice has been called into question. The idea that a conscious being can suffer atrocious and prolonged pain, even after being wounded, clashes with the notion of animal welfare. The defence of these activities often relies on **tradition**, but the question that arises is whether that tradition justifies the suffering.

## Decisions under thermal pressure

The relationship between temperature and decision-making is an increasingly relevant field of study. If extreme heat can affect even the prefrontal cortex, it is logical to think that complex decisions made in high-pressure environments under adverse thermal conditions could be less than optimal. This opens a debate about the suitability of certain practices and the need to consider environmental factors when assessing the rationality of actions.