A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS AND AFFECTS ON THE SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF THE HUMAN BODY

(1) A brief review of the literature is presented, including the history of factors affecting body temperature.

(2) The heat regulatory capacity of children and schizophrenics is discussed.

(3)Some surface temperature readings of twenty patients are presented. The most outstanding effects of emotional influence on surface temperature occurred in a schizophrenic, and in two psychoneurotics, one of which showed the major hysterical reaction. Weeping caused a noticeable change in the surface temperature of one patient. The temperature of the two sides in hemiplegics was remarkably similar. The electrothermograph of one patient, preoccupied by unpleasant aspects of her life-history, shows a sharp drop in the temperature of the right cheek.

(4)Emotional reactions appear to have an inconstant effect on surface temperature, as Pembrey had concluded. It seems fairly well established that emotions or affects may conspire to produce surface temperature deviations, variable in duration, even to the extent of fever, or outspoken hypothermia.

(5) The face appears to be the zone of most marked temperature fluctuation which may account for the frequency of blushing in this region. Reactions quite the opposite of blushing may occur.

(6) The centers in the brain having some effect on heat control seem to be in the hypothalamus. Localization of cortical representation (if there be one) for the peripheral sympathetic nervous system has not been adequately demonstrated.

(7) Emotional, or affective, life as seen by the clinician is a relatively crude objective and subjective chain of events. To the physiologist, surface temperature variation is only one of many reactions of the individual to the external and internal environment.