Electroencephalogram Characteristics during Local and Whole-body Skin Cooling in Women with a Cold Constitution

To elucidate the brain activity characteristics regarding cold sense in people with hypersensitivity to the cold, we examined electroencephalogram (EEG) responses during local and whole-body skin cooling in young adult women with and without a cold constitution. EEG responses were measured at the parietal area under an eyes-closed condition, and the spectral power of four frequency bands (θ, α1, α2, β) was analyzed. In the local cooling experiment, local temperatures at dorsal feet were reduced from 33°C to 23°C using local temperature controlling devices with peltier elements. In the whole-body cooling experiment, whole-body skin temperature was reduced from 36-36.5°C to 34-34.5°C using a water-perfused suit. EEG responses in women with a cold constitution were characterized by 1) a lower appearance of low-frequency α waves during local and whole-body skin cooling, and 2) a higher appearance of β waves during whole-body skin cooling but not during local skin cooling.