A Thermal Perception Scale for Use during Resting Exposure to Cold Air

Abstract

The present investigation introduces a thermal perception scale (TS) for use during protracted resting cold exposure. The scale contains categories ranging consecutively from 0, i.e., Nothing at all, to 10, i.e., Very, very cold. Eight Caucasian men were randomly exposed to ambient air in a climatically controlled environmental chamber of 8°, 12°, and 27° C for 120 min. on 3 separate occasions and monitored for rectal temperature (T_re), mean skin temperature (T̄_sk), ventilation (V_E), and oxygen consumption (VO₂). The terminal perceptual categories were anchored for 8 subjects and a standard set of instructions was presented prior to each trial. The anchor Temperature was the room air in the anteroom which was 27° C, representing 0, i.e., “Nothing at all,” to extend the scale so that subsequent judgments on the scale were expressed in relation to this category. In addition, the subjects were also asked to imagine the coldest that they have ever experienced and this was designed to anchor “Very, very cold.” The relations between scale scores and the thermoregulatory variables were examined wirh a simple linear regression and coefficients of correlation and determination for each subject. High coefficients of determination between T̄_sk, VO₂, and V_E indicated that, for individual subjects, the scores on the scale were related to V_E, T̄_sk, and VO₂. High reliability coefficients for TS were also reported. In addition, the ratings and VO₂ relation tended to be similar between subjects. Therefore, this scale appears to be a valid and reliable tool for measuring the perception of cold when at rest in air.