Andrew Huberman· PhD
Now that thermostat has to have information. It has to have input. Where does that input come from? It comes from our overall body surface where we sense temperature, okay?
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The evidence is convergent. Multiple independent sources reach the same conclusion, the underlying mechanism is well-characterized, and even the field's most cautious voices treat it as worth doing.
Now that thermostat has to have information. It has to have input. Where does that input come from? It comes from our overall body surface where we sense temperature, okay?
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We have this thermostat in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus, which is interesting to me, the medial preoptic area is also one that's known to be sexually dimorphic, depending on testosterone exposure early in life, or et cetera. Nonetheless, we've got this area that acts as a thermostat. And you said it's collecting information from the whole body.
So the information that's going to the hypothalamus is more integrated representation of body temperature.
But if you stimulate certain neurons in the medial preoptic area, you can trigger dramatic changes in body temperature and/or mating behavior.
I'd love to turn to this area that you mentioned, the medial preoptic area. I'm fascinated by it, because just as within the VMH, you have these neurons for mating and fighting, or aggression, my understanding is medial preoptic area contains neurons for mating, but also for temperature regulation.