Thermoregulation during fever: Change of set-point or change of gain

Mitchell, Duncan ; Snellen, J. W. ; Atkins, A. R.
Springer
Published 1970
ISSN:
1432-2013
Keywords:
Fever ; Thermoregulation ; Set-Point ; Physiological Control ; Fieber ; “Set”-Punkt ; Physiologische Kontrolle
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Thermoregulation during fever is generally described in terms of a change in the level of the reference signal in the control system. This paper presents an alternative postulate, namely that during fever the thermoregulatory control centre undergoes a pyrogen-induced change in sensitivity, or gain. This postulate is supported strongly by the behaviour of thermoregulatory neurones. Febrile and afebrile thermoregulation can be described by means of a model with no reference signal at all, but with opposing warm and cold stimuli to the control centre.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL: