Temperature regulation training in a cooling environment.

Abstract

Twelve young men were given biofeedback training to enable them to increase finger temperature at will. They were dressed in warm clothing, including gloves, and placed six at a time in an environmental chamber at 7 degrees C for three hours daily for eight work days. Each was to attempt six rewarmings per session. Finger temperature was presented to the subject on a multipoint recorder. Data from 554 attempts were analyzed. A training effect was not noted, but successful rewarmings were present from the start. The 12 subjects varied considerably in ability to rewarm, from 89% to 28% successes. They were divided into the most and least consistent who, nevertheless, remained over 10 degrees C above air temperature. These performances were compared with another group wearing identical, or even much more insulative, handwear under roughly comparable conditions but without voluntary rewarming; the advantage of periodic feedback rewarming to maintain finger temperature in such conditions was obvious.