An air supply device and a method of operating same are provided for a vehicle seat having an air discharge opening provided in the upper region of the vehicle seat, via which opening a head, shoulder, and neck region of the seat occupant can be supplied with an airflow. The airflow is adjustable by a control unit for controlling or regulating a fan rotational speed of a blower and can be heated via a heating element. The control unit is supplied at least one activation signal for activating the air supply device and a temperature signal that provides information about the interior temperature. The control unit activates the heating element and the blower according to the activation signal and then controls at least the blower as a function of the interior temperature.