adaptive thermogenesis

Adaptive thermogenesis is the physiological process by which animals generate heat to maintain body temperature, particularly in response to cold. This is primarily achieved through specialized tissue called brown adipose tissue (BAT), also known as brown fat.12

BAT is found in newborns and hibernating animals, helping them to avoid hypothermia. When exposed to cold, hormones trigger BAT to produce heat through a process called nonshivering thermogenesis. This occurs in the mitochondria of brown fat cells, where a protein called thermogenin uncouples energy production, releasing energy as heat. Mammals, including humans, regulate body heat through a combination of physiological and behavioral mechanisms, with the brainstem, specifically the hypothalamus, acting as the central control.134