Effects of thermal environment on body temperature rhythm and thermal sensation before and after getting into bed: A laboratory study in Shanghai, China

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Body temperature rhythm serves as a crucial bridge connecting thermal environment and sleep rhythm. While previous studies have extensively confirmed the significant effects of thermal environment on sleep process, a quantitative exploration elucidating the relationships between sleeping thermal environment and body temperature rhythm has persistently been absent. This research aimed to investigate the persistent effects of three stable thermal environments (16 °C, 20 °C and 24 °C) on body temperature rhythm and thermal sensation during complete sleep process. In a laboratory with strictly controlled environment, 14 participants underwent a continuous four-day sleep experiment over a two-month period. Throughout three distinct phases (pre-bed sitting, awake lying in bed, and sleep after lights-off), core body temperature at gastro-intestinal tract, as well as skin temperature at nine specific locations, were continuously monitored. Concurrently, regular questionnaires were employed to periodically collect data on participants’ thermal sensation. The data confirmed that (1) three hours after lights-off, core-to-skin temperature gradient consistently fluctuated around 2 °C across three conditions, and this observation may aid in elucidating the physiological significance of sleeping thermal environment; (2) thermal environment before getting into bed exerted a significant influence on body temperature rhythm and can further regulate the duration of sleep onset latency; (3) bedding system significantly diminished the impact of thermal environment on body temperature rhythm, and future bedding microenvironment deserves more attention; and (4) existing methods for sleeping thermal sensation evaluation varying degrees of limitation, and a novel prediction method was proposed. In general, this study provided valuable insights for the design and regulation of bedroom thermal environment from a thermophysiological perspective.