New research from the University of Queensland has challenged long-held ideas about how the nervous system detects temperature. Scientists have discovered that most of the skin’s temperature-sensitive nerve cells, known as thermoreceptors, can respond to both warmth and coolness, rather than relying on separate groups of nerve cells for each sensation. The findings overturn a widely accepted model of temperature perception and provide new insight into how the body monitors changes in its environment. Thermoreceptors play a vital role in human survival by detecting temperature at the skin’s surface and transmitting this information to the brain, enabling the body to respond appropriately to changing conditions.
Dr Clarissa Whitmire from the Queensland Brain Institute explained that the study showed thermoreceptors are capable of signalling both warm and cool sensations. Instead of distinct nerve cells responding to different temperatures, the same thermoreceptors increase their activity when temperatures fall and reduce their activity as temperatures rise. This dual response allows the brain to interpret changes in temperature more efficiently than previously believed. The discovery challenges decades of scientific understanding and suggests the nervous system uses a more flexible mechanism for sensing everyday temperature changes.
To investigate this process, researchers used advanced imaging techniques in mouse models to monitor the activity of thousands of thermoreceptor cells. The experiments focused on ordinary, non-painful temperature changes, such as moving into a cool room or stepping into warm bathwater, rather than extreme heat or cold. By observing how individual nerve cells responded across a range of comfortable temperatures, the team was able to demonstrate that most thermoreceptors contribute to sensing both warming and cooling, providing strong evidence against the traditional two-cell model.
The findings may have important implications for understanding disorders that affect temperature sensation. According to Dr Phill Bokiniec, accurate temperature detection is essential for homeostasis, the body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment. People with conditions such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and peripheral neuropathy often experience impaired thermal sensation, making it difficult to recognise and respond to environmental temperature changes. A better understanding of how thermoreceptors function could help guide the development of more effective treatments for these conditions.
The research may also help explain why ageing reduces the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Older adults are particularly vulnerable during heatwaves and periods of extreme weather, and impaired thermoreceptor function may contribute to their increased risk. By identifying how healthy thermoreceptors normally operate, scientists hope to understand better how ageing and disease disrupt these sensory pathways and why some people lose the ability to detect temperature accurately.
The researchers believe their work could reshape scientific understanding of temperature perception and improve future therapies for thermal dysfunction. Dr Whitmire said the team also hopes to determine whether changes in thermoreceptor function could serve as an early indicator of neurodegeneration, similar to the relationship between hearing loss and dementia. She emphasised that identifying the correct nerve cells and signalling pathways is essential, as treatments targeting the wrong mechanisms are unlikely to be effective. The study therefore provides a foundation for developing more precise approaches to diagnosing and treating disorders that affect the body’s ability to sense temperature.
More information: Phillip Bokiniec et al, Population encoding of cool and warm by thermoreceptors, Neuron. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2026.06.021
Journal information: Neuron Provided by University of Queensland
