The effects of rate of temperature change and adapting temperature on thermal sensitivity

The effects of the rate of temperature change and adapting temperature on human thermal sensitivity were examined with a magnitude estimation technique. Suprathreshold cool and warm stimuli ranging in intensity from 1 to 5°C were presenttd at 0.5, 1, and 2°C/sec from a number of adapting temperatures. Sensitivity to cool and warm stimuli did not vary with rate. Sensitivity was, however, markedly altered as the adapting temperature was varied from 25 to 40°C. The influence of rate of temperature change and of adapting temperature on sensitivity to suprathreshold thermal stimuli parallels that described by others for sensitivity to threshold stimuli.