Heat pain thresholds in the oral-facial region

Abstract

Two experiments demonstrate that the sensitivity to heat pain varies significantly within the oral-facial region. Although the chin, the vermilion border of the lip, and the tonguetip are about equally sensitive, the mucosal lip and the dorsum of the tongue produce thresholds approximately 1.5°C higher. The spatial heterogeneity of heat-pain thresholds is discussed in relation both to local variations in perceived warmth in the same areas and to the neural and physical variables that might underlie them. © 1985 Psychonomic Society, Inc.