Interindividual differences in thermal comfort and the responses to skin cooling in young women

The present study aims to understand the effects of interindividual differences in thermal comfort on the relationship between the preferred temperature and the thermoregulatory responses to ambient cooling. Thirteen young women subjects chose the preferred ambient temperature (preferred Ta) in a climate chamber and were categorized into the H group (preferring ≥29 °C; n=6) and the M group (preferring <29 °C; n=7). The H group preferred warmer sensations than the M group (P<0.05) and the average of preferred Ta was 27.6 °C and 30.2 °C in the M group and H group, respectively. Then all subjects were exposed to temperature variations in the climate chamber. During Ta variations from 33 °C to 25 °C, the H group felt colder than the M group, although no difference was noted in the Tsk (mean skin temperature) and Ts-hand between the 2 groups. From the view of the relationship between the Tsk and thermal sensation, although the thermal sensitivity to the Tsk was almost similar in the H and M groups, the H group might have lower threshold to decreasing Ta than the M group.

► We measured the thermoregulatory responses to ambient cooling. ► Subjects were the young females who preferred high (H group) and medium (M group) temperature. ► During decreasing temperature, no difference was noted in the mean skin temperature. ► However, the H group felt colder than the M group. ► Sensory threshold to temperature variations differ in M and H groups.