A thermal perception scale for use during resting exposure to cold air

Area of Science:

• Environmental Physiology
• Human Thermoregulation
• Sensory Perception

Background:

• Assessing subjective thermal perception during prolonged cold exposure is crucial for understanding human physiological responses.
• Existing scales may lack the precision needed for detailed scientific investigation in controlled environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel Thermal Perception Scale (TS) for quantifying subjective feelings of cold during extended rest.
• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the TS by correlating its scores with objective thermoregulatory variables.

Main Methods:

• Eight male participants underwent controlled cold air exposure (8°C, 12°C, 27°C) for 120 minutes.
• Physiological parameters including rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature (Tsk), ventilation (VE), and oxygen consumption (VO2) were monitored.
• A standardized TS, anchored at 27°C ('Nothing at all') and a subjectively imagined coldest experience ('Very, very cold'), was used for ratings.

Main Results:

• High coefficients of determination were found between TS scores and Tsk, VO2, and VE, indicating strong individual subject correlations.
• The TS demonstrated high reliability coefficients across repeated measurements.
• The relationship between subjective ratings and VO2 showed consistency among participants.

Conclusions:

• The developed Thermal Perception Scale (TS) is a valid and reliable instrument for quantifying cold perception in resting individuals.
• The TS effectively captures subjective responses that correlate with objective physiological measures of thermoregulation.
• This scale offers a valuable tool for research involving cold stress and human physiological adaptation.