thermosensory
Thermosensory refers to the sensory processes that detect and encode temperature changes. In biology, the term describes both the sense of temperature in organisms and the molecular and neural mechanisms that enable that sense. Thermosensation relies on peripheral thermoreceptors located in the skin and mucosal surfaces that transduce temperature variations into neural signals. These receptors include free nerve endings that respond to warming or cooling and a family of ion channels that gate in response to temperature changes, most notably the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.
Molecular sensors: TRPM8 detects cool temperatures (and menthol), with activation at roughly room temperature or cooler;
Neural pathways: Thermosensory signals travel via primary afferent neurons to the spinal cord or brainstem, then
Functions and scope: Thermosensation supports homeostasis, protective nociception, and behavioral choices. It operates across vertebrates and