Thermal Regulation of the Brain-An Anatomical and Physiological Review for Clinical Neuroscientists.

Huan Wang,Kieran P Normoyle,Miri Kim,Daniel Llano

doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00528

Abstract

Humans, like all mammals and birds, maintain a near constant core body temperature of 36–37.5°C over a broad range of environmental conditions and are thus referred to as endotherms. The evolution of the brain and its supporting structures in mammals and birds coincided with this development of endothermy. Despite the recognition that a more evolved and complicated brain with all of its temperature-dependent cerebral circuitry and neuronal processes would require more sophisticated thermal control mechanisms, the current understanding of brain temperature regulation remains limited. To optimize the development and maintenance of the brain in health and to accelerate its healing and restoration in illness, focused, and committed efforts are much needed to advance the fundamental understanding of brain temperature. To effectively study and examine brain temperature and its regulation, we must first understand relevant anatomical and physiological properties of thermoregulation in the head-neck regions.

Highlights

Traditionally viewed as an order parameter that passively reflects a collective state of brain activity, may act as a control parameter, a dynamic fluctuating variable capable of modulating brain activity and function (Wang et al, 2014)
A recent study of ventricular cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) temperature in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) demonstrated increased periventricular cerebral temperatures in NPH which were corrected with shunting (Kuriyama et al, 2015) suggesting normal ventricular shape and size are important for cerebral temperature regulation
Intricate temperature regulation co-evolved with increasing neural complexity, implying interdependence between temperature regulation and the achievement of higher functioning states

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Traditionally viewed as an order parameter that passively reflects a collective state of brain activity, may act as a control parameter, a dynamic fluctuating variable capable of modulating brain activity and function (Wang et al, 2014). The cortical veins circulate blood at low velocity and pressure compared to the arterial flow, likely providing a second means of highly effective CSFvenous thermal interaction in the brain, increasing the ability for thermal of regulation. A recent study of ventricular CSF temperature in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) demonstrated increased periventricular cerebral temperatures in NPH which were corrected with shunting (Kuriyama et al, 2015) suggesting normal ventricular shape and size are important for cerebral temperature regulation Through this extensive and intimate fluid-brain and fluid-vessel interactions, the biochemical and thermal environment of the CNS can be finely tuned and regulated. The scalp has features, including sweat glands and specialized blood vessels that promote uniquely rapid thermal homeostasis of the brain

CONCLUSION

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS