A novel approach to characterize the energy cost of human cool-seeking behavior and its individual variability during heat stress

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Nuno Koch Esteves, Daisy Luck, Hannah Blount, Francesca Romana Cavallo, Peter R. Worsley, Justin Sheffield, Ian Galea, Davide Filingeri
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00271.2025
Cited by: 0
References: 73

Abstract

We present a novel approach to characterize the energy cost of a common human cool-seeking behavior (i.e., manual fanning) and its individual variability during heat stress. Results indicate that our novel approach, which combine accelerometery (movement patterns) and indirect calorimetry (energy expenditure), is feasible and effective. This approach could be applied to a variety of thermal behaviors, thereby broadening the methodological toolkit available to researchers to study the relationship between behavioral and autonomic human thermoregulation.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Thermoregulation and physiological responses Building Energy and Comfort Optimization Cardiovascular and exercise physiology

Publication details

Journal / source
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Volume
330
Issue
2
Pages
R232–R242
Publication date
14 January 2026
Language
EN