Current models of afferent inputs to the brain, which influence body water volume and concentration via thirst and drinking behavior, have not adequately described the interactions of subconscious homeostatic regulatory responses with conscious perceptions. The purpose of this investigation was to observe the interactions of hydration change indices (i.e., plasma osmolality, body mass loss) with perceptual ratings (i.e., thirst, mouth dryness, stomach emptiness) in 18 free-living, healthy adult men (age, 23 ± 3 y; body mass, 80.09 ± 9.69 kg) who participated in a 24-h water restriction period (Days 1-2), a monitored 30-min oral rehydration session (REHY, Day 2), and a 24-h ad libitum rehydration period (Days 2-3) while conducting usual daily activities. Laboratory and field measurements spanned three mornings and included subjective perceptions (visual analog scale ratings, VAS), water intake, dietary intake, and hydration biomarkers associated with dehydration and rehydration. Results indicated that total water intake was 0.31 L/24 h on Day 1 versus 2.60 L/24 h on Day 2 (of which 1.46 L/30 min was consumed during REHY). The increase of plasma osmolality on Day 1 (297 ± 4 to 299 ± 5 mOsm/kg) concurrent with a body mass loss of 1.67 kg (2.12%) paralleled increasing VAS ratings of thirst, desire for water, and mouth dryness but not stomach emptiness. Interestingly, plasma osmolality dissociated from all perceptual ratings on Day 3, suggesting that morning thirst was predominantly non-osmotic (i.e., perceptual). These findings clarified the complex, dynamic interactions of subconscious regulatory responses with conscious perceptions during dehydration, rehydration, and reestablished euhydration.
Keywords: brain; dehydration; drinking; oropharyngeal; osmolality; sensation.