When immersed in plain water at 40 degrees C, normal young adults experience an important increase in the heart rate. beta adrenergic receptor blockade by propranolol (40 and 80 mg) reduces this tachycardia by 25%. The increase in the heart rate depends on orthosympathetic stimulation, on parasympathetic inhibition and on a Q10 effect related to the blood temperature acting on the sino-auricular node.