Sleep, vigilance, and thermosensitivity

Abstract

The regulation of sleep and wakefulness is well modeled with two underlying processes: a circadian and a homeostatic one. So far, the parameters and mechanisms of additional sleep-permissive and wake-promoting conditions have been largely overlooked. The present overview focuses on one of these conditions: the effect of skin temperature on the onset and maintenance of sleep, and alertness. Skin temperature is quite well suited to provide the brain with information on sleep-permissive and wake-promoting conditions because it changes with most if not all of them. Skin temperature changes with environmental heat and cold, but also with posture, environmental light, danger, nutritional status, pain, and stress. Its effect on the brain may thus moderate the efficacy by which the clock and homeostat manage to initiate or maintain sleep or wakefulness. The review provides a brief overview of the neuroanatomical pathways and physiological mechanisms by which skin temperature can affect the regulation of sleep and vigilance. In addition, current pitfalls and possibilities of practical applications for sleep enhancement are discussed, including the recent finding of impaired thermal comfort perception in insomniacs.

Natural Sleep and Its Seasonal Variations in Three Pre-industrial Societies

“…S1) and we saw a similar pattern in the Tsimané. Therefore, we precisely measured ambient temperature at the sleeping sites along with finger temperature and abdominal temperature in our studies of the San[21]. Figs.…”

Abnormalities in the 24‐hour rhythm of skin temperature in cirrhosis: Sleep‐wake and general clinical implications

“…Diverse theories have been proposed to clarify the thermophysiological mechanism leading to sleep initiation. Over the past decades, the influence of altering core body temperature, body heat production and/or heat loss have been studied as potential processes involved in the circadian regulation of the sleep‐wake cycle . Currently, it is assumed that the redistribution of heat from proximal to peripheral sites, driven by vasodilation of distal skin regions, is a crucial step and it is closely linked to sleep onset latency .…”

A review of human thermal comfort in the built environment

“…Other studies have shown the relationship between indoor climate and the quality of sleep [27][28][29][30][31][32][33], stating that the optimal thermal conditions for a good night's sleep are different from ASHRAE 55 [27,28]. For example, research indicates that in the summer indoor temperatures during sleep could be higher than those prescribed by ASHRAE 55.…”

“…A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 33 Lee et al [347] studied the descriptors -warm‖ and -slightly hot‖, when translated from English to Korean and used in scales to assess the thermal comfort sensation. Results indicate that for Koreans, the term -warm‖ indicates thermal comfort, while -slightly hot‖ refers to some sort of discomfort [347].…”