Day-night difference in the preferred ambient temperature of human subjects
Abstract
To investigate the existence of a day-night difference in thermal preference, 32 college students (16 male, 16 female) were asked to indicate a threshold of discomfort in a climate-controlled environment. The experiment was performed at two distinct times of day that corresponded to the peaks and troughs of the subject's circadian rhythm of body temperature. Males, but not females, felt comfortable at a higher ambient temperature during the trough than during the peak of the body temperature rhythm. These data support the hypothesis (derived from animal studies) that behavioral thermoregulation opposes the circadian rhythm of body temperature.
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Among the 15 reviewed experimental studies investigating diurnal variations in thermal perception, two observed significant differences but were conducted only with male subjects.
“two observed significant differences but were conducted only with male subjects [18,75]”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
Shoemaker & Refinetti found for male subjects the temperature thresholds for discomfort were significantly lower in the afternoon than at night, while for female subjects the difference was not significant.
“For male subjects, the temperature thresholds at which the subjects began to feel thermally uncomfortable were found to be significantly lower in the afternoon than at night, while for female subjects the difference was not significant.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
Shoemaker & Refinetti [75] and Kim & Tokura [74] found significant differences in thermal perception associated with the time since the last menstruation and the luteal/follicular phase, respectively.
“Indeed, Shoemaker & Refinetti [75] and Kim & Tokura [74] found significant differences in thermal perception associated with the time since the last menstruation and the luteal/follicular phase, respectively.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
The only exceptions to thermoneutral initial conditions were the experiments of Nevins and Rohles [12,13], Shoemaker & Refinetti [75], Kakitsuba & White [77] and Kakitsuba [18,19,78].
“The only exceptions were the experiments of Nevins and Rohles [12,13], Shoemaker & Refinetti [75], Kakitsuba & White [77] and Kakitsuba [18,19,78].”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [75]
Cites
The circadian rhythm of body temperature
Refinetti, R., & Menaker, M. (1992) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(92)90188-8 · Cited by 735 · see citing works
Prediction and Detection of Ovulation
Wallach, E. E., & Moghissi, K. S. (1980) · Fertility and Sterility · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)44888-0 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
A study of the nycthemeral cycle of behavioural temperature regulation in man.
Cabanac, M., Hildebrandt, G., Massonnet, B., & Strempel, H. (1976) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011368 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Rhythms of temperature selection and body temperature are out of phase in the golden hamster.
Refinetti, R. (1995) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037//0735-7044.109.3.523 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Circadian and Circannual Variations in the Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in a Constant Climate
Pöllmann, L. (1994) · Indoor Environment · doi:10.1177/1420326x9400300308 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
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Circadian rhythmicity of body temperature and metabolism
Refinetti, R. (2020) · Temperature · doi:10.1080/23328940.2020.1743605 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Human thermal perception and time of day: A review
Vellei, M., Chinazzo, G., Zitting, K.-M., & Hubbard, J. (2021) · Temperature · doi:10.1080/23328940.2021.1976004 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Some evidence of a time-varying thermal perception
Vellei, M., O’Brien, W., Martinez, S., & Le Dréau, J. (2022) · Indoor and Built Environment · doi:10.1177/1420326x211034563 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Ambient temperatures preferred by humans acclimated to heat given at a fixed daily time
Shido, O., Sakurada, S., Sugimoto, N., Hiratsuka, Y., & Takuwa, Y. (2001) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00428-5 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
- Authors
- Adam Shoemaker, J.
- Venue
- Physiology & Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1996-05
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 4-5
- Pages
- 1001-1003
- ISSN
- 0031-9384 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2133398688
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 0.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Physiology & Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
- Keywords
- thermal comfort, diurnal variation, circadian rhythm, body temperature rhythm, behavioral thermoregulation, sex differences, discomfort threshold
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Auditory Perception, Body Temperature, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Male, Menstrual Cycle, Perception, Sex Characteristics, Temperature
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