Pain relief by touch: A quantitative approach

Abstract

SummaryWe tested whether, how, and where intrasegmental touch modulates the perception of laser-evoked, acute pain. We provide evidence for a spatial organisation of touch–pain interactions within a single dermatome.

Interpersonal Touch Buffers Pain Sensitivity in Romantic Relationships but Heightens Sensitivity between Strangers and Friends

“…These WDR neurons may also play a role in generating analgesic effects from touch. Based on this observation, Mancini, Nash, Iannetti, and Haggard found that sensitivity to radiant heat was reduced by tactile stimulation [49].…”

“…Pain sensitivity is often measured as a duration threshold, which represents the amount of time that elapses from the initiation of a stimulus (such as a pain induction) to the point at which the stimulus is perceived as painful [66]. However, sensitivity can also be operationalized as an intensity threshold, which represents the intensity of pain being experienced at the moment when the stimulus is perceived as painful [49]. Instead of asking "at what point in time does the stimulus begin to hurt?…”

Sensing the body in chronic pain: A review of psychophysical studies implicating altered body representation

“…With respect to experimentally-induced pain, both external stimulation -applied via von Frey hair filaments (Mancini et al, 2014) -and self-touch (Kammers et al, 2010) have demonstrated analgesic effects in healthy subjects. Of particular interest are the results of the latter study by Kammers et al (2010), who found that the bringing together of hands under the thermal grill illusion weakened the heat sensation in the cool finger.…”

On the Importance of Being Vocal: Saying “Ow” Improves Pain Tolerance

“…11 Additionally, studies comparing pain sensations with and without concurrent tactile stimulation found touch to be analgesic. 18 Such effects were reported when pain and touch affected the same dermatome 12 and also when they affected different dermatomes, 36 allowing for the possibility that somatosensory feedback contributes to vocalizing analgesia.…”