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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Determining Pain Detection and Tolerance Thresholds Using an Integrated, Multi-Modal Pain Task Battery
Published on: April 14, 2016
Individuals with dark eyes and hair exhibit higher pain sensitivity
Henrik Holmgaard1, Eva Ørsnæs Hansen1, Nhung Phuong Thi Dong1
1a Department of Health Science and Technology , Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark.
Abstract:
Emerging evidence suggests that some phenotypic features, such as eye or hair colour, might predict pain. We investigated if light and dark eye and hair colour would influence pain in 60 healthy subjects divided in groups of 15 according to their eye-hair colour and gender. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), cold pressor test (CPT), and quality of the perceived pain were assessed. Findings indicated that dark pigmentation phenotype is more sensitive in response to CPT.
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