Use of thermal rhythmography for the evaluation of autonomic nervous function

In this study, the changes in skin blood flow and skin temperature for healthy subjects and the difference in the distribution of the rhythms of skin temperature between healthy subjects and patients with Raynaud's syndrome were analyzed using laser Doppler flow meters, thermocouples and a thermographic system (thermal rhythmography) which is capable of displaying topograms of the power spectra of an arbitrary frequency range with respect to changes in skin temperature. The results showed that the periodic fluctuations of skin temperature may provide a useful index for autonomic nervous conditions, and thermal rhythmography could become a useful tool for the evaluation of autonomic dysfunction or for the preventive diagnosis of neuro-vascular diseases such as Raynaud's syndrome.