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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Published on: February 16, 2017

Five-factor personality traits and pain sensitivity: a twin study.

Olav Vassend¹, Espen Røysamb, Christopher S Nielsen

¹Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

|March 12, 2013

Summary

Individual differences in pain sensitivity are influenced by personality. Cold-pressor pain intensity (CPI) showed significant genetic links with impulsiveness and excitement-seeking traits, unlike heat pain intensity (HPI).

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Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery

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Published on: April 14, 2016

Area of Science:

Behavioral Neuroscience
Psychology
Pain Research

Background:

Individual differences in pain perception are multifactorial, influenced by genetics, demographics, and psychological factors like personality.
Understanding the interplay between personality traits and pain sensitivity is crucial for developing targeted pain management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the phenotypic and genetic correlations between personality traits and experimental pain sensitivity.
To determine the extent to which shared genetic and environmental factors mediate the relationship between personality and pain responses.

Main Methods:

A twin study design with 188 participants (aged 23-35) assessed heat pain intensity (HPI) and cold-pressor pain intensity (CPI).
Personality traits were measured using the NEO Personality Inventory, Revised.
Bivariate Cholesky models and generalized estimating equations were employed for biometric and association analyses.

Main Results:

Significant phenotypic associations were found between CPI and Impulsiveness (Neuroticism) and Excitement-Seeking (Extraversion).
Genetic correlations for CPI with Impulsiveness and Excitement-Seeking were .37 and .43, respectively.
HPI showed weak associations with personality, though Angry Hostility (Neuroticism) had a significant environmental correlation (re=.21).

Conclusions:

Cold-pressor pain intensity (CPI) demonstrates more consistent phenotypic and genetic relationships with personality traits compared to heat pain intensity (HPI).
These findings highlight the distinct genetic and environmental underpinnings of different pain modalities in relation to personality.