Nature of the Physiological Stimulus for Shivering

Abstract

The application to the study of shivering of 2 physiologic tools, imperfectly homeothermic mice and electromagnetic waves substituting for chemical thermogenesis, is described. Shivering as recorded by the electromyograph progresses during exposure from in-apparent to apparent bursts of reflex muscular activity. Shivering was studied in euthermic, hyperthermic, hypothermic and deeply hypothermic animals. In all conditions except deep hypothermia, the difference between central and mean surface temperatures governed the occurrence, intensity and evolution of shivering. The rapidity of changes in reflex muscular activity following changes in the gradient between core and skin, suggests that the responses are mediated exclusively by nerves.