Closed loop control of human body temperature: results from a one-dimensional model.

A one-dimensional model of human thermo-regulation is used to solve a variety of basic problems in determining an adequate structure of the controller for metabolic heat production, skin blood flow and sweat production. Assuming one integrated central and one integrated peripheral afferent signal the controller parameters are evaluated by analysis of the control performance. Based on a validation by experimental results this allows the determination of a first optimized set of values for controller gains and weight of skin temperature feedback. Furthermore we analyse the effect of inhomogeneous distribution of heat production and blood flow, the influence of body fat content, of controller gains, of weight of skin temperature feedback and of depth of peripheral receptors on the dynamic performance. Increase of peripheral blood flow in particular evokes essentially both an increase of energy requirement in the cold and a quicker system response. Differing rates of increase of metabolic heat production are the consequence of differing body fat content. The weight of skin temperature feedback can be limited to 5...20%, because values outside this range evoke dynamic responses incompatible with the experiments. The actual value can only be determined if there is a correct assumption for the depth of the skin receptors. The use of measured superficial skin temperatures brings about an underestimation of the peripheral afferent signal. Of the controller gains it is primarily the gain of the metabolic controller which affects the dynamic response of the system. The experimental fact of a delayed onset of sweat production after a transition from cold to heat is the consequence of a high gain of the vasomotor system.