Cold or Hot? How Thermal Stimuli Are Related to Human Emotional System?

The aim was to study emotional responses to thermal stimulation. Stimuli were varied by increasing or decreasing temperature by 2, 4 or 6ï źC in respect to the participants' hand temperature. The stimuli were either dynamic i.e. heated or cooled while touching or pre-adjusted i.e. heated or cooled to the target temperature before touching. The results showed, for example, that 6ï źC change in temperature was rated as unpleasant, arousing, dominant, and avoidable especially when the stimulus was warm. 4ï źC increase was rated as arousing, dominant, and pleasant. In addition, pre-adjusted 6ï źC increase elevated the physiological arousal in terms of skin conductance response.