A groundbreaking study has mapped the full neural circuit that carries cool temperature signals from the skin to the brain.

Exposure to water that is 15C can trigger the cold shock response. This causes the blood vessels in the skin (those in contact with the cold water) to constrict rapidly.

That’s not the only thing you may need to worry about. You may unwittingly trigger a cold shock response. Millions of Americans are experiencing extreme heat and humidity this week.

"Nature relieves physical pain: pain-related signals in the brain are reduced." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 March 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com / releases / 2025 / 03 / 250313130758.htm>.

“Plunging into cold water of any temperature becomes dangerous if you aren’t prepared for what the sudden exposure can do to your body and brain,” the National Weather Service explains ...