title: Influence of thermophysiology on thermal behavior: the essentials of categorization.
abstract: Predicted energy use of dwellings often deviates from the actual energy use. Thermoregulatory behavior of the occupant might explain this difference. Such behavior is influenced by thermal sensation and thermal comfort. These subjective ratings in turn are linked to physiological parameters such as core and skin temperatures. However, it is unclear which physiological parameters best predict thermoregulatory behavior. The objective of this research was to study physiological parameters that potentially can be used to predict thermoregulatory behavior. Sixteen healthy females (18-30 years) were exposed to two dynamic temperature protocols: a gradual increase (+4 K/h, ranging from 24 °C to 32 °C) and a gradual decrease in ambient temperature (-4 K/h, ranging from 24 °C to 16 °C). During the experiments physiological responses, thermal sensation, thermal preference and the intention of thermoregulatory behavior were measured. Thermal sensation is highly correlated with thermal preference (r=-0.933, P<0.001). The skin temperature of the wrist best predicts thermal sensation (R(2)=0.558, P<0.001) and therefore seems useful as a physiological parameter to predict the intention of thermoregulatory behavior. When the subjects are categorized based on their thermal sensation votes, more precise predictions of thermal sensation can be made. This categorization therefore can be of value for the determination of the actual energy use of occupant in dwellings.
authors: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism of Maastricht University Medical Center+, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Christel M C
authors: CM
authors: Jacquot
authors: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism of Maastricht University Medical Center+, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; School of Built Environment and Infrastructure, Avans University of Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 1097, 5004 BB Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors: Lisje
authors: L
authors: Schellen
authors: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism of Maastricht University Medical Center+, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Boris R
authors: BR
authors: Kingma
authors: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism of Maastricht University Medical Center+, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Marleen A
authors: MA
authors: van Baak
authors: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism of Maastricht University Medical Center+, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: markenlichtenbelt@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors: Wouter D
authors: WD
authors: van Marken Lichtenbelt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013696:Temperature; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine
keywords: Categorization; Thermal preference; Thermal sensation; Thermophysiology; Thermoregulatory behavior