Physiological benefits likely underlie the systematic recruitment of thermoeffectors

摘要

In most circumstances, the recruitment of thermoeffectors in endotherms is a coordinated event. Thermoeffectors that are physiologically 'cheap' are activated before more 'expensive' (i.e., resource consuming) responses are evoked. Thus, in humans, changes in skin blood flow are observed prior to the initiation of sweating in the heat (a body water consuming response) and increases in metabolism in the cold (an energy consuming response) [1]. It is likely that this is an evolutionarily conserved phenomenon, providing the benefit of regulating body temperature without the use of physiological resources. Importantly, behavior is considered to be the most powerful, diverse, and preferred thermoeffector, owing to its practically limitless possibilities.Despite near universal acknowledgement, an understanding of the control of behavioral thermoregulation in humans has been largely ignored compared to the control of its autonomic counterparts. By extension, it is unknown where thermal behavior fits within the orderly recruitment of thermoeffectors. Our recently published study aimed to fill this knowledge gap [2].