Abstract
The origin of the difference in cold sensation in response to immersion in various liquids is studied by psychophysical experiment and computer simulation.
The temperature of subjective equality among various liquids during immersion in water, glycerin and alcohol are measured by the method of limits. Further, the rate of decrease of skin temperature during the liquid immersion is measured. The results show a possibility that the difference in the transient change of the skin temperature would be responsible for the difference in the dynamic cold sensation. According to the experimental results, an analog simulator realizing the static and dynamic characteristics of the cutaneous cold receptor to temperature stimulation is constructed. Variations in the receptor temperature and afferent impulse frequencies in response to immersion in water and alcohol at various temperatures are calculated.
As a result of this study, it has been confirmed that the difference in cold sensation, during immersion in various liquids depends on the difference in the decreasing rate of skin temperature.
The results obtained in this study would serve for the analysis of the dynamic characteristics of the human temperature regulatory system.
