Thermoregulatory models. Recent research, current applications and future development.

This review traces the efforts of different fields of thermoregulatory modeling. The aims of the three diverging branches can be characterized by (i) insight into functional physiological mechanisms and prediction of physiological phenomena, (ii) prediction of human performance for the protection of industrial workers or military personnel, and (iii) prediction of the impact of accidents, diseases, and clinical treatments. Common current and future efforts may be recognized which improve the physiological quality of the models for purposes either of physiological research itself or of promotion of the field of application, namely, (i) to approach the models to real geometry and anatomy of the human body, (ii) to simulate more adequately heat transport processes induced by the circulating blood, (iii) to implement more sophisticated regulatory concepts, (iv) to take into account interaction with other regulatory systems. "Environmental Ergonomics" should be an adequate forum for linking these diversified fields together.