Cited by 122Thermal Regulation in MedicineThermoregulation and physiological responsesNeural dynamics and brain function

Brain temperature and its role in physiology and pathophysiology: lessons from 20 years of thermorecording

Open access
Kiyatkin, Eugene A.·2019·Temperature

Abstract

It is well known that temperature affects the dynamics of all physicochemical processes governing neural activity. It is also known that the brain has high levels of metabolic activity, and all energy used for brain metabolism is finally transformed into heat. However, the issue of brain temperature as a factor reflecting neural activity and affecting various neural functions remains in the shadow and is usually ignored by most physiologists and neuroscientists. Data presented in this review demonstrate that brain temperature is not stable, showing relatively large fluctuations (2-4°C) within the normal physiological and behavioral continuum. I consider the mechanisms underlying these fluctuations and discuss brain thermorecording as an important tool to assess basic changes in neural activity associated with different natural (sexual, drinking, eating) and drug-induced motivated behaviors. I also consider how naturally occurring changes in brain temperature affect neural activity, various homeostatic parameters, and the structural integrity of brain cells as well as the results of neurochemical evaluations conducted in awake animals. While physiological hyperthermia appears to be adaptive, enhancing the efficiency of neural functions, under specific environmental conditions and following exposure to certain psychoactive drugs, brain temperature could exceed its upper limits, resulting in multiple brain abnormalities and life-threatening health complications.

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Crossref · 10.1080/23328940.2019.1691896

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  • Chemically induced temperature changes such as those caused by drugs can exceed the upper physiological limit, disrupting thermal dynamics and leading to maladaptive neural activity and life-threatening complications.

    “however, they further discuss it in the light of chemically induced temperature changes such as those caused by drugs which can exceed beyond its upper physiological limit disrupting thermal dynamics leading to maladaptive neural activity and life-threatening complications (Kiyatkin, 2019).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Kiyatkin, 2019

  • Physiological hyperthermia in the rat brain appears to be adaptive under normal conditions, enhancing neural functions.

    “Furthermore, physiological hyperthermia in the rat brain appears to be adaptive under normal conditions, enhancing neural functions (Kiyatkin, 2019).”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Kiyatkin, 2019

  • Brain temperature in rats is inherently unstable, fluctuating between 2 and 4°C under normal physiological and behavioral conditions.

    “Studies on rat models reveal that brain temperature is inherently unstable, fluctuating between 2 and 4°C under normal physiological and behavioral conditions.”

    From Comparative analysis of energy transfer mechanisms for neural implants (2024) · cites this paper as Kiyatkin, 2019

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Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. [14]Broca P Sur les temperatures morbides locales. Bulletin de l’Academie de Medicine. 1879; 8: 1331– 1347.
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Authors
Kiyatkin, E. A.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Kiyatkin, Eugene A.
Venue
Temperature
Published
2019-10-02
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
271-333
ISSN
  • 2332-8940 (ISSN-L)
  • 2332-8959
OpenAlex
W2994590621
Cited by
122
References
243
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 3
FWCI
1.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Temperature (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (ZIADA000445)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Thermal Regulation in Medicine
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
brain temperature, neuronal activity, brain metabolism, hyperthermia, motivated behavior, psychoactive substances, homeostasis, neurochemistry, neurophysiology

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