Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark Travers writes about the world of psychology. A “hot-and-cold” relationship refers to a dynamic where one partner alternates ...

When we touch something hot or cold, the temperature is consciously sensed. Previous studies have shown that the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, is responsible for thermal sensations.

The practice sounds almost medieval in its simplicity: alternating between hot and cold temperatures to heal the body. Yet temperature contrast therapy, switching between heat exposure and cold ...