Paradoxical cold sensation

As paradoxical sensation of cold , even paradoxical cold sensation called (ger .: paradoxical response to heat or paradoxial heat response ) refers to the phenomenon that when a strong heating of the skin over 40 ° C enters a temporary sensation of cold.

Causes and explanatory model

The paradoxical cold sensation is probably caused by a brief discharge of the cold receptors , which then behave similarly to a nociceptor . Normally the cold receptors are not discharged at temperatures above 45 ° C. The rapid temperature change (temperature shock) nevertheless leads to a discharge. The phenomenon can be observed especially when the bath water is too hot.

A generally accepted explanation for the occurrence of the paradoxical cold sensation is not yet available.

literature

• DR Kenshalo and R. Duclaux: Response characteristics of cutaneous cold receptors in the monkey. In: J Neurophysiol 40/1977, pp. 319-32.
• C. Schierz, H. Krueger: Physiology II: Sensory organs. ETH Zurich, p. 14.
• K. Zimmermann u. a .: The TRPV1 / 2/3 activator 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate sensitizes native nociceptive neurons to heat in wildtype but not TRPV1 deficient mice. In: Neuroscience 135/2005, pp. 1277-84.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Roche Lexicon Medicine, Edition 5, Sensation of cold, paradox
2. ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: somatosensory, nociception and pain. University of Jena
3. ↑ Deetjen, Speckmann, Hescheler: Physiologie , 4th edition, Elsevier 2004.