What is it called when you can control your body temperature?

September 29, 2025 •

4 min read

While the body's internal temperature is largely regulated involuntarily by the autonomic nervous system, certain advanced techniques, like those practiced by Tibetan monks, have shown that humans can exert some conscious control over their core temperature. This phenomenon is a fascinating intersection of mind and body, exploring how learned psychological skills can influence typically automatic physiological processes.

Quick Summary

The ability to consciously influence one's body temperature is not a single term, but rather a complex, learned process involving voluntary thermoregulation and biofeedback. These techniques often leverage mental concentration and specific breathing exercises to intentionally activate parts of the nervous system typically outside of conscious control, a feat demonstrated by practitioners of methods such as Wim Hof and g-Tummo meditation.

Key Points

Voluntary Thermoregulation: This is the general term for consciously influencing one's body temperature, distinct from the involuntary, or autonomic, process.
Biofeedback: A technique using electronic monitoring to train individuals to consciously control bodily functions, including skin temperature.
Meditative Techniques: Practices like g-Tummo meditation use specific breathing (vase breath) and visualization to raise core body temperature.
Involuntary Thermoregulation: The primary, automatic control of body temperature is handled by the hypothalamus, which triggers sweating or shivering.
Wim Hof Method: A modern practice combining breathing, cold exposure, and meditation to consciously influence the autonomic nervous system.
Learned Skill: The ability to control body temperature is not innate but a highly developed skill requiring consistent practice and concentration.

The Autonomic Nervous System: The Body's Thermostat

The body's internal temperature is primarily managed by a process known as thermoregulation, controlled by the hypothalamus, a region in the brain. This is an involuntary or autonomic process, meaning it happens without our conscious thought. The hypothalamus receives signals from thermoreceptors throughout the body and skin, and then triggers various responses to either heat up or cool down the body.

When you get too hot, the hypothalamus prompts:

Sweating: Evaporation of sweat from the skin cools the body.
Vasodilation: Blood vessels near the skin widen to increase blood flow and release heat.

When you get too cold, the hypothalamus initiates:

Shivering: Involuntary muscle contractions generate heat.
Vasoconstriction: Blood vessels constrict to reduce blood flow to the skin and conserve heat.
Non-shivering thermogenesis: Particularly in infants, brown adipose tissue (brown fat) is activated to produce heat.

Biofeedback: Learning to Influence the Autonomic System

Biofeedback is a technique that teaches a person to control bodily functions that are normally involuntary. For temperature control, this typically involves sensors attached to the skin (often on the fingers or toes) that provide real-time feedback on temperature changes. By watching the temperature readouts, an individual can learn to consciously influence blood flow to their extremities, a process known as thermal biofeedback.

Initially, this control is learned through relaxation techniques, visualization, and deep breathing, which can help increase blood flow (and therefore temperature) to the hands and feet. Over time, with consistent practice, some individuals can achieve a degree of control without the aid of a monitor. This technique is used therapeutically to treat conditions like Raynaud's disease and migraines.

Eastern Practices: Meditation and Voluntary Control

Beyond Western medical techniques, certain meditative practices have long explored the ability to intentionally control body temperature. The most famous of these is g-Tummo meditation, a practice employed by Tibetan monks. Studies have shown that advanced g-Tummo meditators can significantly increase their core body temperature, effectively keeping themselves warm in frigid conditions. This is achieved through a combination of visualization and a specific breathing technique known as "vase breathing".

Another modern example is the Wim Hof Method, which combines cold exposure with specific breathing techniques and meditation. Scientific studies on the Wim Hof Method have indicated that practitioners can consciously influence their autonomic nervous system, leading to changes in both core temperature and inflammatory responses.

The Mechanisms of Mind-Body Influence

So, how exactly does the mind influence the body's thermostat? The answer lies in the intricate connection between our conscious thought and the autonomic nervous system. The prefrontal cortex, the seat of conscious thought, can send signals to the hypothalamus via various neural pathways. While the everyday influence is subtle, dedicated training can strengthen these pathways.

Vasodilation and vasoconstriction: Biofeedback training allows conscious influence over the sympathetic nervous system, which controls blood vessel constriction and dilation. By relaxing, individuals can promote vasodilation and increase peripheral temperature.
Metabolic rate: The breathing techniques used in g-Tummo and the Wim Hof Method can induce a state of intermittent hypoxia and stress, which can lead to increased metabolic heat production in brown fat.
Psychological factors: Visualization and focus also play a critical role, helping to modulate the body's stress response and intentionally shift physiological states.

The Challenge of Voluntary Thermoregulation

While the human mind has shown a remarkable capacity for influence, it's crucial to understand the limitations. This is not about instantaneous control, but a learned skill requiring immense practice and concentration. The effects are also often limited to specific, controlled conditions. The ability to increase one's core temperature during meditation, for example, is a testament to the power of the mind-body connection, but it is not a practical substitute for proper clothing or shelter in extreme cold.

Comparing Thermoregulation Methods


Feature	Autonomic Thermoregulation	Thermal Biofeedback	Meditative Techniques (g-Tummo)
Control	Involuntary, automatic	Learned, conscious	Learned, highly conscious
Brain Region	Hypothalamus	Varies, involves sensory cortex	Hypothalamus, prefrontal cortex
Mechanism	Reflex arc responses	Real-time feedback loop	Breathing, visualization, focus
Primary Goal	Maintain homeostasis	Therapeutic stress reduction	Enhanced resilience, spiritual discipline
Speed of Action	Immediate, automatic	Gradual, with practice	Gradual, with intense training
Effectiveness	Highly reliable for survival	Measurable, therapeutic benefits	Demonstrated, but not for casual use

The Link Between Mind, Breath, and Temperature

The profound connection between respiration and body temperature is a central theme in many of these advanced practices. Breathing techniques, from the vase breathing of g-Tummo to the rapid-fire breaths of the Wim Hof Method, directly affect the body's metabolic processes and nervous system. Hyperventilation, followed by a breath hold, temporarily increases the body's stress response, activating the sympathetic nervous system and triggering heat-generating mechanisms. This demonstrates how a seemingly simple act like breathing can serve as a powerful lever for influencing internal, automatic bodily functions.

Conclusion: A Symphony of Control

So, what is it called when you can control your body temperature? The most accurate, encompassing term is voluntary thermoregulation, a complex skill rooted in practices like biofeedback and advanced meditation. This control is not a magic switch, but a learned ability to intentionally influence the body's automatic systems through focused mental and respiratory techniques. While the hypothalamus performs the automatic balancing act of thermoregulation for us every day, these techniques offer a tantalizing glimpse into the conscious mind's latent capacity to step in and direct the symphony of our own physiology.

For more information on the physiological basis of these processes, a great starting point is the NCBI's article on the physiology of thermoregulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

With training through techniques like biofeedback, a person can learn to influence peripheral temperature (e.g., in their hands or feet). Increasing core body temperature, as demonstrated by meditators, is more advanced and requires significant practice.

The hypothalamus is the brain's primary thermostat, managing involuntary thermoregulation. It receives temperature information and sends signals to trigger responses like sweating or shivering to maintain a stable core temperature.

Practiced under proper guidance, techniques like biofeedback are generally safe. Extreme methods or cold exposure without proper preparation can be dangerous and should not be attempted casually.

Biofeedback provides real-time monitoring of skin temperature. This visual or auditory feedback helps a person connect their mental state (e.g., relaxation, visualization) with physiological changes, allowing them to consciously affect blood flow and temperature.

The Wim Hof Method is a practice involving breathing, cold exposure, and meditation. It has been studied for its ability to enable conscious control over the autonomic nervous system, potentially influencing temperature and immune response.

A fever is the body's intentional raising of temperature to fight infection, a complex immune response. While some practices can influence temperature, trying to consciously override a fever is not recommended and should not replace proper medical care.

Some of the most compelling examples come from studies of Tibetan monks practicing g-Tummo meditation, where they have been shown to increase their core body temperature using specific breathing and visualization techniques. Biofeedback training also offers a measurable, scientific approach to voluntary control.