[Measurement of pain threshold and tolerance threshold using radiant heat stimulation.--Regional difference, sex difference, expression of sensation].
In 1940, Hardy had developed a method of radiant heat stimulation and succeeded to determine pain threshold quantitatively. An algometer NYT-55 was developed according to his principle by Nakahama and Yamamoto, which was a further developed version of Hardy's model. In the present study, pain threshold and tolerance threshold were measured quantitatively, using Initial Skin Temperature Controlled Repeated Thermal Stimulation System (STRTS) which was composed of NYT-55 (KUDO ELECTRIC Co.) and a microcomputer PC-9801 VM 21 (NEC Co.). The following results were obtained in healthy volunteer students (62 males and 61 females). The pain and tolerance threshold were changed at every measurement sites on the body surface. The sex differences were observed for both pain and tolerance threshold. In general, the male's threshold intensity was higher than that of female. The pain threshold of trained subjects who have experienced preparatory training about pain measurement were relatively stable, while the threshold of untrained subjects were unstable.
Akita
H
H
Department of Physiology, School of Hygienic Sciences, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Noda
K
K
Aikawa
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013997:Time Factors