Thermal response of cutaneous thermoreceptors: A new criterion for the human body thermal sensation

Abstract

So far, all of the thermal sensation models have been developed on the basis of energy balance equations for each compartment of the human body. But, the human body feels thermal environment by response of cutaneous thermoreceptors, not by balance of energy. Therefore, the mentioned models are not in conformity with the physiology of thermal sensation and because of this, they can not accurately predict the thermal sensation of the human body in some complex conditions. For the mentioned reasons, we attempt to represent the human body thermal sensation as a function of the thermoreceptors' response. Accordingly, in the present study, a new criterion index for evaluating the thermal sensation has been introduced on the basis of cutaneous thermal responses. This index has been verified by extensive comparisons with the published analytical and experimental results where a good agreement was found under both steady-state and transient conditions. Therefore, the new criterion index can be utilized for evaluating of the body thermal sensation in a wide range of personal/environmental conditions.