Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Skin Temperature Modifies the Pleasantness of Thermal Stimuli

Abstract

MUCH of human temperature regulation is mediated by behaviour, and thermoregulatory behaviour is guided in large measure by thermal sensations, particularly their affective components, that is, their pleasantness or unpleasantness. When we feel unpleasantly cold or warm, we turn the thermostat up or down, put a sweater on or take it off.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cabanac, M., Physiol. Behav., 4, 349 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Carlisle, H. J., J. comp. Physiol. Psychol., 61, 388 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Adair, E. R., Casby, J. U., and Stolwijk, J. A. J., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 72, 17 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Chatonnet, J., and Cabanac, M., Int. J. Biomet., 9, 183 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Stevens, S. S., Am. J. Psychol., 69, 1 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cooper, K. E., and Kenyon, J. R., Br. J. Surgery, 44, 616 (1957).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Stevens, J. C., and Marks, L. E., Percept. Psychophys., 9, 391 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Marks, L. E., and Stevens, J. C., Am. J. Psychol., 86, 251 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Cabanac, M., Science, N.Y., 173, 1103 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Gagge, A. P., Stolwijk, J. A. J., and Hardy, J. D., Environ. Res., 1, 1 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

MARKS, L., GONZALEZ, R. Skin Temperature Modifies the Pleasantness of Thermal Stimuli. Nature 247, 473–475 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/247473a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/247473a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing