2007, Piran, Slovenia

Environmental Ergonomics XII
Igor B. Mekjavic, Stelios N. Kounalakis & Nigel A.S. Taylor (Eds.), © BIOMED, Ljubljana 2007
Figure 1. The typical example of local warming and cooling of four body regions.
The regional characteristics in thermal comfort/discomfort should be helpful to maintain the
function of vital organs in each region. During heat exposure (Experiment 1) the face was
most sensitive to local warming to produce discomfort, and also to local cooling to produce
comfort. This characteristic should be useful to keep the head surface as cool as possible and
to avoid heat-induced damage to the brain. On the other hand, during cold exposure
(Experiment 2) the abdomen was most sensitive to local cooling to produce discomfort, and
also to local warming to produce comfort. These characteristics should be useful to keep the
warmth of abdominal surface and aiding in maintaining the functionality of the underlying
organs.
DISCUSSION
The regional difference of temperature sensation and thermal comfort/discomfort was shown
by local temperature stimulation of four areas; the face, chest, abdomen and thigh. The face
displayed the strongest comfort by cooling during mild hot exposure, and the weakest
uncomfortable by cooling during mild cold exposure. The abdomen displayed the weakest
comfort by cooling during mild heat exposure, and the strongest comfort by warming during
mild cold exposure.
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370
Skin Temperature ( )
40.0
38.0
36.0
34.0
32.0
Ta = 32 - 33
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
time (min)
face
chest
abdomen
thigh