Abstract
We examined the regional sensitivity in temperature sensation and thermal comfort/discomfort. Subjects sitting in a 33°C environment were locally cooled and warmed with water perfused stimulators (270cm2). The water for basal, cooling, and warming conditions was set at 35°C, 25°C, and 42°C respectively. The areas stimulated were the neck, abdomen, hand and sole. Each stimulus lasted 90 s. Temperature sensation and thermal comfort/discomfort of stimulated area and those of whole body were reported by the subjects. At the basal condition just before the local stimulation of each area subjects reported hot and uncomfortable for whole body sensations. At the end of 90 s cooling, subjects reported clear cold sensation for local temperature sensation and no significant difference was observed among those of the four areas. But for local thermal comfort/discomfort at the same time point, depended on the area stimulated. While abdominal cooling produced no pleasant feeling, cooling of the other parts produced clear pleasant sensation. As for local warming, at the end of 90 s stimulation subjects reported hot and uncomfortable sensation and no significant difference was observed among those of the four areas. These results show that humans tend to keep the abdomen warm even during whole body heat exposure. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S102]
