' That set point can shift, depending upon environmental influences. For example, if someone is infected, a fever can actually help his or her body survive the disease, as certain kinds of bacteria grow less vigorously at high temperatures. Cytokines attacking the intruders send signals to the hypothalamus to release prostaglandins to 'give' the person a fever. Even if the person moves to a cold room, the fever will persist, and the body will work harder to maintain its high temperature (Kalat, 2008, p.294).
Newborn animals such as rabbits will often instinctively move to a warmer place if infected, as their bodies are too immature to demonstrate the involuntary response of a fever. Temperature modification is based upon involuntary biological mechanisms but also instinctual behavioral changes that have other evolutionary sources. Some of our involuntary and voluntary human mechanisms include shivering, huddling together with other warm creatures, moving towards the warm...
Similarly, in hot weather, seeking out sources of water, becoming less rather than more physically active, and sweating are all common behavioral adaptations.
Some animals have highly specific forms of temperature regulation such as a bird's stance on one claw to warm its other leg against its body, or the tendency of rats in estrus to learn better in cooler environments, because their bodies are generating so much heat during this period of time (Kalat, 2008, p.292). These are examples of body-brain unity: the rat's learning capacity is affected by levels of physical comfort in certain temperatures, while an apparently deliberate and conscious action by a bird is in fact instinctual and an attempt to keep warm.
Reference
Kalat, James W. (2008). Biological psychology. 10th Edition. Wadsworth.
