Mobile-Menu
German China

Temperature Comfort-Zone in the Brain

Environmental warmth is sensed by thermoreceptors in the skin and the thermosensory information is sent to the spinal cord. When the information is relayed to the cerebral cortex through the thalamus, the hot temperature is perceived. But, this arrow forward Image Zoom
Environmental warmth is sensed by thermoreceptors in the skin and the thermosensory information is sent to the spinal cord. When the information is relayed to the cerebral cortex through the thalamus, the hot temperature is perceived. But, this "feeling" of temperature does not lead to behaviors to avoid the hot environment. Another pathway from the spinal cord to the lateral parabrachial nucleus mediates the generation of discomfort to drive cold-seeking (or heat-avoidance) behaviors. This pathway also leads to the autonomic heat-loss responses, such as increases in skin blood flow and sweating in humans. (Kazuhiro Nakamura)
1/2
Back to the Article