New multidisciplinary research shows that the brain forms memories of cold experiences and uses them to control our metabolism. The study shows that cold memories form in the brain — and map out how they subsequently drive thermoregulation. The discovery may have important applications in therapies designed to treat a range of disorders — from obesity to cancer — in which thermoregulation and metabolism (or a lack of control in this area) plays a role, as well as opening the door to more fundamental research, which could help us better understand how memories impact our behavior and emotions.