Systems for analysing thermal emotion (behavioral thermoregulation)

在本研究中，我们开发了分析系统（1）热舒适的感觉在人类和（2）行为的温度调节在大鼠。在人类中，我们使用功能性磁共振成像来搜索全身变冷或变暖时激活的大脑区域。对于热刺激，我们已经开发了一种特殊的袋子，其中一个人躺在仰卧位。通过袋的温度受控空气流。8名男性受试者暴露于8 ℃或13℃的冷空气中22 min，每1 min进行一次热舒适评分。热舒适评分与双侧杏仁核的rCBF变化相关，即受试者感觉冷时双侧杏仁核的神经活动增加。结果表明杏仁核在人体热舒适感的形成中起一定作用，该系统可用于人体热舒适感的分析。用于大鼠行为体温调节的操作系统包含一个可以对流加热或冷却的盒子。一只老鼠在盒子里自由活动。它的位置由光电监测，而它的深部体温由遥测系统监测。在放热实验中，热空气（40℃）流过盒子。当大鼠进入奖励区时，切换空气源，冷空气（0℃）流过盒子一段给定的时间（30秒）。相反，在冷逃避实验中，冷空气流过盒子，当老鼠进入奖励区时，空气源被切换到温暖的空气源。实验表明，老鼠很快就学会了呆在奖励区附近，并周期性地进出。该系统基于比经常使用的按压反应更自然的行为，并且在涉及行为体温调节的研究中具有许多优势。

In the present study we developed systems for analyzing (1) thermal comfort sensation in human and (2) behavioral thermoregulation in rats. In humans we used fMRI to search the brain regions activated by whole body cooling or warming. For thermal stimulation we have developed a special bag in which a human subject laid in supine position. Temperature controlled air flow through the bag. Eight male subjects were exposed to cool air of 8 or 13℃ for 22 min and scored their thermal comfort in every 1 min. The subjective thermal comfort score was correlated with rCBF changes in bilateral amygdala ; i.e.the neural activity there increased as the subjects felt it cold. It is suggested that the amygdala plays some role in the genesis of thermal comfort and this system is considered to be useful to analyze thermal comfort sensation in human. The operant system used for the rat behavioral thermoregulation contains a box that can be convectively heated or cooled. A rat moves freely in the box. Its location is monitored photoelectrically while its deep body temperature is monitored by a telemetry system. In heat-escape experiments hot air (40℃) flows through the box. When the rat enters a reward zone the air source is switched and cold air (0℃) flows through the box for a given period (30 sec). Conversely, in cold-escape experiments cold air flows through the box and when the rat enters the reward zone the air source is switched to a warm one. Experiments show that rats quickly learn to stay near the reward zone and move in and out of it periodically. This system is based on behavior more natural than the frequently used lever-pressing response, and has many advantages for use in studies involving behavioral thermoregulation.