title: Current understanding on the neurophysiology of behavioral thermoregulation.
abstract: Temperature influence on the physiology and biochemistry of living organisms has long been recognized, which propels research in the field of thermoregulation. With the cloning and characterization of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels as the principal temperature sensors of the mammalian somatosensory neurons, the understanding, at a molecular level, of thermosensory and thermoregulatory mechanisms became promising. Because thermal environment can be extremely hostile (temperature range on earth's surface is from ∼ -69°C to 58°C), living organisms developed an array of thermoregulatory strategies to guarantee survival, which include both autonomic mechanisms, which aim at increasing or decreasing heat exchange between body, and ambient and behavioral strategies. The knowledge regarding neural mechanisms involved in autonomic thermoregulatory strategies has progressed immensely compared to the knowledge on behavioral thermoregulation. This review aims at collecting the up-to-date knowledge on the neural basis for behavioral thermoregulation in mammals in order to point out perspectives and deployment of this research field.
authors.affiliation: Natural and Humanities Science Center; Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC); São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cognition; Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC); São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Camila
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cognition; Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC) ; São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson Cristiano Lillo
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Vizin
authors.affiliation: Natural and Humanities Science Center; Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC); São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil; Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Cognition; Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC); São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Carneiro
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Carrettiero
keywords: grooming; operant thermoregulatory behavior; thermo-TRP; thermogradient