Components in the sensory, integrative, and motor divisions of the thermoregulatory system exhibit rhythmic activity covering a frequency range over five orders of magnitude. In spite of these rhythmic properties, current models of thermoregulation are nonoscillatory. 2. The connectivity of the current neural models is empirically correct when applied to predicting changes in metabolism during central thermal and/or neurochemical stimulation. 3. However, because these models lack a temporal compensation, the operating principles of a thermoregulatory neural network remains unclear. 4. This paper presents strong evidence that integrative thermoregulatory neurons exert a variety of rhythmic control over all thermoregulatory motor outputs. 5. Furthermore, it is shown that without an oscillating integrative and motor system, especially pathways controlling peripheral heat loss, a thermoregulatory system is unstable. 6. The preponderant rhythmic activity in the thermoregulatory systems indicates that neural modelling of physiological regulation should be designed with oscillatory control.
