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1. The technique of perceptual rating of thermal stimuli was used, in eight human subjects immersed in warm water, in order to appreciate whether they were hypo‐, normo‐ or hyperthermic. Oesophageal, tympanic and forehead skin temperatures were recorded, as also was the temperature of the skin above the angularis oculi vein. Once the subjects gave clearly hyperthermic ratings, one arm was exposed to a 6 m/s wind. After 5‐‐10 min the arm was re‐immersed and the face was fanned. 2. Fanning of the arm resulted in lowering of body core temperature. However ratings of thermal stimuli remained hyperthermic. 3. Face fanning decreased forehead skin, angularis oculi vein and tympanic temperatures. Hyperthermic ratings were replaced by normothermic ratings, although oesophageal temperature continued to rise. 4. The upper limit of oesophageal temperature for normothermic ratings was 37.o6 +/‐ 0.09 degrees C during the control period without fanning. This temperature rose to 37.91 +/‐ 0.09 degrees C during facial ventilation. 5. These results suggest a selective cerebral cooling due to venous blood returning from facial skin via the ophthalmic vein to the cavernous sinus, where a cooling of arterial blood ascending to the brain can take place.

1. Five human subjects pedalled on a bicyle ergometer for at least two 74 min periods at 10 degrees C ambient temperature. During the first period the subjects cycled for 42 min with face fanning, followed by 32 min with the head thermally insulated. In the second period, this procedure was reversed. Oesophageal (tes), tympanic (Tty), forehead and hand skin temperatures were recorded. In addition, heart rate (H.R.) was counted throughout the experiments, and the technique of perceptual rating of cool and warm stimuli was used in order to appreciate whether the subjects were hypo‐, normo‐, or hyperthermic. 2. Face fanning resulted in decreased Tty, decreased H.R., mild skin vasoconstriction but increased Tes. 3. Head covering resulted in increased Tty and H.R., while Tes decreased slightly, due to peripheral vasodilatation. 4. When their faces were being fanned so that Tty was low and Tes was high, the subjects gave slightly hypothermic ratings. Ratings were clearly hyperthermic when their heads were covered and Tty was high and Tes was low. 5. The close correlation between vasomotor response and H.R. on the one hand and Tty on the other confirms that this variable is a better approximation of regulated core temperature than Tes. 6. Increase in Tes during face fanning and decrease in Tes during face insulation is new evidence for the possibility of the human brian being cooled during exercise by cool blood returning from the face. 7. We suggest that this selective brain cooling determines the apparent upper resetting of core temperature during exercise while brain temperature remains precisely regulated and constant.