两个术语的区别在于cooling-off period (争议缓和期）为民商法上的术语，指货物销售或罢工中，争议双方当事人所需进一步考虑或谈判，从而不采取任何具体冲突行为之时间[1]。cooling time (神智平息期）则为刑法术语，常用作指情感受刺激或挑衅后的一种激情或愤怒之平息时间，以对其行为后果作正确判断等[2]。《英汉双解法律词典》（世界图书出版社，第 132页）将他们列为同义术语，说前者是英式英语，而后者为美语，此种说法是否正确，望读者谨慎。
[1]“ An opportunity to resile from a contract and cancel it within a specified time period. ”Cf. G. H. I. Fridman, Sale of Goods in Canada, 3rd edition, at p. 492, Toronto, Carswell (1986). " The time before a strike or lock-out may begin. " Cf. Labor Management Regulation Act, s. 2.
[2]“Time in which to become calm following provocation. If a court finds that the cooling time was sufficient or reasonable，a defendant may not use provocation to reduce a murder charge to involuntary manslaughter. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D.，Merriam
Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 106，Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).