Human responses to various conditions of water temperature

Abstract

EXPOSURE TIME (SEC.) Two water baths were prepared, one at 320C and the other at the exposure temperature to be studied. The water temperature in each bath was controlled automatically by a constant temperature circulator which maintained the temperature within ±O.loC of any desired level. ProcedureAll measurements were taken from the palmar surface of the hand in the region of Palmaris brevis muscle. Prior to exposure the hand was immersed in the 32 0C bath until its temperature stabilized at this level. The hand was then dried and immersed to the wrist in the exposure tank and moved back and forth to prevent a local warming of the bath. The exposure time was measured by a stopwatch, and following the given exposure time the hand was removed, quickly dried at the site to be measured to avoid having the data influenced by evaporation, and the probe was maintained in contact with the site until the temperature had returned to normal. The ambient air temperature in the laboratory averaged 23. 7 0C with a standard deviation of l.06 0 C over all sessions. Three separate measurements were obtained in each of six different exposure times ranging from 5 to 60 sec. at temperature conditions ranging from 10 0 to 40 0C.Variations in water temperature have been demonstrated to be an effective means for manipulating drive stimulus intensity and reinforcement magnitude in escape conditioning (Woods, Davidson, & Peters, 1964;Woods & Schutz, 1965;Woods & Feldman, 1966;Woods & Holland, 1966). As an adjunct to this research with animals, it would be useful to have this noxious stimulus dimension scaled in various ways by human Ss , But first, at an even more basic level, the actual skin-surface temperature which leads to the psychological sensations should be studied. Therefore, Experiment I deals with the determination of skin-surface temperature immediately following various exposure temperatures and times. Then, in ExperimentII,human Ss attached verbal labels to various temperatures following two exposure times and also rated their sensations on scales of pain and comfort. SubjectsAll measurements were taken from the hand of one human female (P. M. R.). ApparatusAn electronic thermometer (YSI Model 46TUC) equipped with a banjo thermistor probe was used to take the readings and the output was run into a Beckman potentiometric recorder so that a continuous record of temperature change over time was obtained. The calibration of the electronic thermometer was checked against a standardized thermometer from the National Bureau of standards.

Performance and sensory aspects of work in cold environments: a review

“…Local cold sensations tend to become more intense with increased exposure duration, while warm sensations tend to become less intense (Woods et al 1967). When small areas of skin are stimulated, adaptation is more rapid to temperatures above T,, than to temperatures below (Kenshalo and Scott 1966).…”

Signaled escape and signaled punishment: Additional instrumental conditioning paradigms

“…The alley temperature throughout the study was maintained at 15°C. This temperature, which defines our drive stimulus intensity, is described by human Ss after a 5-sec exposure of the hand as cold, uncomfortable, and somewhat painful (Woods, Griffith, Page, & Rodier, 1967). On a reinforced trial, Ss escaped to a tank maintained at 40°C, a temperature rated by humans, in the same manner as above, as warm, nonpainful, and comfortable.…”

Effects of percent relief and number of N-R transitions on extinction in relief conditioning

“…Based on prior psychophysical scaling of this aversive dimension, it is known that this temperature is relatively high on the aversive continuum (Woods, Griffith, Page, & Rodier, 1967). On relief trials subjects in all groups escaped to a goal tank containing water maintained at 40°C.…”