A recent article published in Forbes this month describes research in England that found a connection between DNA and perceived pain levels.

The Study

The study tested perceptions of pain across 1,000 identical twins. Researchers attached a heat source to each twin’s arm and began to increase the heat, telling each participant to press a button when the heat became too much to handle.

The results of the study showed that many of the twins did not have identical perceptions of pain.  Researchers then took blood samples from a select group of twins in which the differences in pain perception were highest. From these blood samples, researchers found several segments of DNA that appeared to be different between the twins.

As most studies go, this is interesting but it’s a relatively weak finding, all things considered.  Pain is far more complex than this study makes it out to be. As a result, this study really does not show anything useful.

Pain Perception is based on Emotional Experiences

Pain is an emotional response to perceived sensory changes.  Identical twins have the same genetic make-up, but they do not have the same life or emotional experiences and therefore will likely have different perceptions of pain.  Analyzing the differences in genetics between two twins and postulating that these contribute to differences in perceived pain is highly unlikely.  The most likely explanation of the difference in pain perception is the difference in life experiences.  There clearly was no control of these variables and this is well known to have a significant effect in pain perception.

Unfortunately, this is only an interesting side light of a story on pain.  When the most important variables that impact pain perception have no control, no conclusion can possibly be accurate beyond the wildest of guesses for the results.  Bottom line, this makes for an interesting story and nothing more.