Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified a potential hurdle that may prevent a person from slipping into a form of frozen sleep. The findings were reported in Innovation Magazine, shedding light on how the body responds to extreme cooling at the neural level.
The researchers carried out experiments on hypothermia, a state where body temperature falls below the level needed to sustain normal metabolism and physiological function, using primate models. By selectively activating specific neurons in the monkeys’ brains, the team induced a small drop in core temperature accompanied by a robust physiological defense.
According to the researchers, the temperature declined by about one degree, yet the animals became more active, their heart rates accelerated, and they exhibited shivering. They described this sequence as a defensive reaction, a natural effort by the body to generate heat and restore warmth. In parallel, similar investigations in mice showed a considerably larger drop in body temperature, roughly ten degrees, without evident adverse effects. The team cautions that, in humans, artificial attempts at hibernation could provoke a comparable response, meaning humans might react by rapidly increasing metabolic activity to stay warm and vigilant.
Hibernation is a survival strategy observed in various mammal species under harsh conditions. In such states, metabolism slows dramatically, body temperature falls, crucial organs reduce activity, heart function slows, and muscles and bones enter a period of rest while maintaining structural integrity. The idea of placing people into a suspended animation could have practical applications, such as providing a window of time for preparing for organ transplantation or transporting patients in critical care situations where normal physiological processes must be temporarily stabilized.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to explore how lowering body temperature might influence cognitive processes in primates. They aim to determine whether the brain can tolerate extended periods at reduced temperatures without compromising learning, memory, or decision-making capabilities. The broader goal is to map the boundaries of human thermoregulatory control and to understand how the nervous system negotiates the competing demands of protection against cold and the preservation of essential brain functions.
These findings contribute to a growing field of inquiry into how controlled hypothermia could be integrated into medical practice. By clarifying the body’s innate responses to cooling and identifying the neural circuits involved, scientists hope to design safer protocols that minimize stress while maximizing potential benefits for patients awaiting transplants or facing time-sensitive interventions. While the prospect of human hibernation remains speculative, this line of research underscores the resilience of the body’s defense mechanisms and the nuanced role of the brain in managing temperature, metabolism, and survival instincts.