Local reflexes are also stimulated by local heating. These can be inhibited or enhanced by descending control from the hypothalamus. Central control of body temperature occurs through a central feedback mechanism which involves a controller, a set of effectors, temperature sensors which feedback and compare to a set point. The controller then adjusts the effector responses based on the feedback. The thermoreceptors are cutaneous , CNS and visceral .
Cutaneous receptors are either warm or cold and either static or dynamic .
The thermoreceptor afferents send their signals via the spinal cord through the raphe nucleus of the midbrain to the thalamus and hypothalamus . The hypothalamic and thalamic pathways can result in cortical excitation which is involved in behavioural thermoregulation. Efferent vasomotor, piloerector, sweating and shivering efferents are generated in the hypothalamus. There are 3 times as many warm as cold thermosensitive cells with varying sensitivities. Warm core temperatures stimulate the PAOH thermosensors to fire.