Question

What thermoregulatory mechanism is activated to normalize body temperature in the individual exposed to cold?

Answer 1

Explanation:

The regulation of body temperature is one of the most critical functions of the nervous system. Here we review our current understanding of thermoregulation in mammals. We outline the molecules and cells that measure body temperature in the periphery, the neural pathways that communicate this information to the brain, and the central circuits that coordinate the homeostatic response. We also discuss some of the key unresolved questions in this field, including: the role of temperature sensing in the brain; the molecular identity of the warm-sensor; the central representation of the labelled line for cold; and the neural substrates of thermoregulatory behavior. We suggest that approaches for molecularly-defined circuit analysis will provide new insight into these questions in the near future.