Many animals inhabit environments where they experience temperature fluctuations. One way in which animals can adjust to these temperature changes is through behavioral thermoregulation. However, we know little about the thermal benefits of postural changes and the costs they may incur. In this study, we examined the thermoregulatory role of two postures, the head-tuck and leg-tuck posture, in ...

The human thermoregulatory system usually maintains core body temperature near 37 degrees C. This homeostasis is accomplished by thermoregulatory defense mechanisms such as vasoconstriction and shivering or sweating and vasodilatation. Thermoregulation is impaired during general anesthesia. Suppression of thermoregulatory defense mechanisms during general anesthesia is dose dependant and mostly...

Temperature influence on the physiology and biochemistry of living organisms has long been recognized, which propels research in the field of thermoregulation. With the cloning and characterization of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels as the principal temperature sensors of the mammalian somatosensory neurons, the understanding, at a molecular level, of thermosensory and therm...

Thermoregulatory huddling behaviours dominate the early experiences of developing rodents, and constrain the patterns of sensory and motor input that drive neural plasticity. Huddling is a complex emergent group behaviour, thought to provide an early template for the development of adult social systems, and to constrain natural selection on metabolic physiology. However, huddling behaviours are...

CNS thermoregulatory networks maintain body core temperature (TCORE) through a balance of cold and heat defensive responses. Thus, skin cooling elicits increased heat retention through cutaneous vasoconstriction (CVC) and heat production via sympathetic neural activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and shivering. Conversely, skin or core warming elicits inhibition of CVC, BAT thermogenesis, a...

Holowatz LA, Kenney WL. Peripheral mechanisms of thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow in aged humans. J Appl Physiol 109: 1538–1544, 2010. First published April 22, 2010; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00338.2010.—Human skin blood flow is controlled via dual innervation from the sympathetic nervous system. Reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction and vasodilation are both impaired with primary aging,...