Scientists have found an explanation for the differences in the perception of cold in men and women

There is an observation that women are more likely to prefer a warmer microclimate than men. It seems that this is not just a matter of habit, as scientific evidence indicates the possible influence of sex hormones on the work of skin thermoreceptors, which, in turn, can change the perception of comfortable temperature.

In many animals, including mice and birds, females usually show a preference for higher temperatures than males. A study of 57 mice was conducted to determine the causes of this phenomenon. The animals were given a choice between two adjacent surfaces: one maintained a constant temperature of 33 °C, and the other had a variable temperature.

When the temperature of the second surface was lower, mice of both sexes were more likely to choose a warm one. However, at a temperature of 38 °C, females spent much more time on this surface than males. The average preferred temperature for males was about 32 °C, while for females it was 36 °C. There are no significant differences in body and skin temperature in animals.

The results of this study were published in The Journal of Physiology.

The scientists focused on specific proteins located in the nerve endings of the skin. These proteins are responsible for responding to heat and cold, facilitating the passage of charged particles into nerve cells. As a result, electrical impulses are generated, which the brain interprets as changes in temperature.

When the researchers deactivated the heat-sensing protein in males, the animals were less likely to avoid hot surfaces. Their temperature preferences approached those of the females. In females, a similar modification had almost no effect.

Blocking the cold receptor led to different results: animals of both sexes showed a decrease in sensitivity to cool surfaces. Females were less likely to choose the warmest areas.

The effects of sex hormones were further studied. In males who suppressed testosterone production, there was a gradual increase in the preference for high temperatures. Females who received testosterone, on the contrary, began to choose cool surfaces more often. Estrogen and progesterone did not show a significant effect on the temperature preferences of the mice.

Testosterone alone could not fully explain the differences, which indicates the involvement of other mechanisms. The exact way the hormone affects the functioning of thermoreceptors has yet to be established.

Although no human studies have been conducted, similar proteins are present in human skin. The findings may therefore contribute to a better understanding of individual differences in heat and cold perception. In the future, this knowledge may be useful not only in the development of comfortable habitats, but also in the context of the study of neuropathic pain, which is often accompanied by increased temperature sensitivity.