Editing Stimulus modality (section)

==Temperature modality==

===Description===

Temperature modality excites or elicits a symptom through cold or hot temperature.<ref>{{cite web|title=Temperature modality|url=http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/temperature+modality}}</ref> Different mammalian species have different temperature modality.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bodenheimer|first=F. S|title=Observations on Rodents in Herter's Temperature Gradient|journal=Physiological Zoology|jstor=30161738|volume=14|issue=2|pages=186–192|year=1941|doi=10.1086/physzool.14.2.30161738|s2cid=87698999 }}</ref>

===Perception===

The [[cutaneous]] somatosensory system detects changes in temperature.  The perception begins when thermal stimuli from a [[homeostasis|homeostatic]] set-point excite temperature specific sensory nerves in the skin. Then with the help of sensing range, specific thermosensory fibers respond to warmth and to cold. Then specific cutaneous cold and warm receptors conduct units that exhibit a discharge at constant skin temperature.<ref name = "mcglone">{{cite journal|last=McGlone|first=Francis|author2=Reilly, David |title=The cutaneous sensory system|journal=Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews|volume=34|issue=2|pages=148–159|doi=10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.08.004|pmid=19712693|year=2010|s2cid=9472588 }}</ref>

===Nerve fibers for temperature===

Warm and cold sensitive nerve fibers differ in structure and function.  The cold-sensitive and warm-sensitive nerve fibers are underneath the skin surface.  Terminals of each temperature-sensitive fiber do not branch away to different organs in the body. They form a small sensitive point which are unique from neighboring fibers. Skin used by the single receptor ending of a temperature-sensitive nerve fiber is small.  There are 20 cold points per square centimeter in the lips, 4 in the finger, and less than 1 cold point per square centimeter in trunk areas.  There are 5 times as many cold sensitive points as warm sensitive points.<ref name = "mcglone"/>