2013 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 178-181
Objective : It is generally believed that the sweat glands of the palm do not respond to thermal stimulus and only show emotional sweating. However, we often experience the presence of sweat on the palm when we clasp another's hand in a hot environment, but not under cool conditions. Therefore, we examined the influence of thermal stimulus on emotional sweating. Measurements : Sweating responses of 7 healthy college students were examined. In an air-conditioned room, emotional sweating from the palm and thermal sweating from the cubital fossa were measured under hot (28°C) and cool (16°C) conditions. Results and Discussion : Thermal sweating was little detected under cool conditions, while it increased in a hot environment;it did not respond to various tasks (mental calculation, puzzle, and hand clasping, etc.). Sweating from the palm was not affected by environmental temperature under rest conditions. However, emotional sweating caused by tasks significantly increased under hot conditions. Conclusions : These results indicate that emotional sweating induced by mental and physical stimulus can be influenced by thermal stimulus.