New Research Reveals Skin Nerve Cells Sense Both Warmth and Cool

Sensing warm and cool: how the body detects temperature changes

Our team at the Queensland Brain Institute discovered that most skin thermoreceptors detect both warm and cool temperatures, overturning the long-held belief that separate nerve cells handle each sensation. By tracking these cells in mice, we found they increase activity in cooler conditions and decrease it when temperatures rise. This breakthrough could revolutionize treatments for thermal dysfunction in conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries, while also shedding light on why older adults struggle with temperature regulation during heat waves.

"Our study shows that rather than relying on 2 separate nerve cells to sense warmth and cool, the body's thermoreceptors can signal both sensations to the brain."