The human thermal response system can be manipulated by the proper combination of applied hot and cold stimuli. Previous research has shown that a sensation of constant cooling can be perceived through the application of certain patterns on the skin. Here we focus on (1) exploring the heat flux characteristics of the thermal display through computer simulations, (2) testing a hypothesis about the relationship between thermal sensation and heat flux, and (3) examining modifications of the thermal display patterns to intensify thermal sensations. To characterize the heat flux patterns of the thermal display, finite element simulations were performed using ANSYS. Simulations were done in two parts: the first examined a small subregion between heating and cooling stimuli, and the second was a larger scale examination of the heat flux profile of the thermal display. It was observed that the heat flux profiles for all thermal patterns were approximately identical. A linear relationship is derived between simulation and experimental results. This relationship was then used to determine the theoretical thermal sensations to determine which are best suited for future physical experimentation on humans.
Although the relationship between temperature and emotional states has been investigated in the field of haptics, it remains unknown if, or in what direction, temperature affects emotional states. We approach this question at the intersection of haptics and psychology using a custom-built thermal device and emotional responses based on photos from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) library. Unlike past research, this study incorporates deception and a control (i.e., neutral temperature) condition. One hundred and twenty naive subjects reported their emotional responses to fifty-six images varying on normative arousal and valence ratings while being exposed to a cool (30°C), neutral (33°C), or warm (36°C) temperature applied to the upper back. Participants exposed to warm temperatures reported higher arousal ratings in some image categories than participants exposed to neutral or cool temperatures. Valence ratings were decreased in warm conditions compared to neutral conditions. The emotion wheel was used as a complementary method of affective response measurement, and exploratory analysis methods were implemented. Although the valence and arousal showed statistical significance, the emotion wheel results did not demonstrate any significant differences between the temperature conditions.
The largest human organ is skin, which covers and protects the body from external objects and serves as a medium of interaction with the outside world. Having adequate knowledge about human thermal perception aids in the design of devices that interact with skin and broaden our perspective of the affecting parameters in the perception process. A thermal projector was designed based on an Optima X316 Projector which is capable of creating different thermal patterns on a surface with different intensities by use of visible light waves. Skin temperature was measured via a FLIR A325-SC thermal camera. Using these devices we were able to create thermal patterns and control the rates at which the temperature of human skin is changed. A psychophysical experiment using the setup was used to determine skin thermal sensitivity and threshold. Subjects’ skin was exposed to different thermal projections and their skin was heated at constant rates to certain degrees higher than their skin temperature. As their skin temperature was altered incrementally on each location, they stated whether they could feel the heat on their skin. The experiment showed that there was statistical significance between the rate at which the subjects’ skin was heated and whether the subjects felt a temperature change. Statistical significance was also found between the amount of exposure time prior to the instance subjects felt a change in temperature and the rate at which the skin was exposed.
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