Assessing individual sensitivity to the Thermal Grill Illusion: A two-dimensional adaptive psychophysical approach

Camila Sardeto Deolindo; Jesper Fischer Ehmsen; Arthur S. Courtin; Alexandra G. Mitchell; Camilla E. Kraenge; Niia Nikolova; Micah G. Allen; Francesca Fardo

doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104732

Assessing individual sensitivity to the Thermal Grill Illusion: A two-dimensional adaptive psychophysical approach

Camila Sardeto Deolindo, Jesper Fischer Ehmsen, Arthur S. Courtin, Alexandra G. Mitchell, Camilla E. Kraenge, Niia Nikolova, Micah G. Allen, Francesca Fardo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Clinical Medicine - Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

In the Thermal Grill Illusion (TGI), the spatial alternation of non-noxious warm and cool temperatures elicits burning sensations that resemble the presence of noxious stimuli. Previous research has largely relied on the use of specific temperature values (i.e., 20 °C and 40 °C) to study this phenomenon in both healthy individuals and patient populations. However, this methodology fails to account for inter-individual differences in thermal sensitivity, limiting the precision with which TGI responses can be evaluated across diverse populations. To address this gap, we created a Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration (2D-TGC) protocol, enabling an efficient and precise estimation of the combinations of warm and cool temperatures needed to elicit burning sensations tailored to each individual. By applying the 2D-TGC protocol in 43 healthy participants, we demonstrated that the TGI can be thresholded using an adaptive psychophysical method, and that multiple combinations of warm and cool temperatures can elicit this phenomenon. More specifically, the protocol facilitated the identification of temperature combinations that elicit TGI with varying levels of probability, intensity, and perceived quality ranging from freezing cold to burning hot. Finally, our results indicate that TGI responsivity can be quantified as a continuous variable, moving beyond the conventional classification of individuals as responders vs. non-responders based on arbitrary temperature values in the innocuous temperature range. The 2D-TGC offers a comprehensive approach to investigate the TGI across populations with altered thermal sensitivity, and can be integrated with other methods (e.g., neuroimaging) to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system. Perspective: This study reveals that the Thermal Grill Illusion can be accurately measured using psychophysical methods. The innovative Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration protocol allows for personalized temperature assessments, enhancing our understanding of thermal sensitivity variations and perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system across different populations.

Original language	English
Article number	104732
Journal	Journal of Pain
Volume	27
ISSN	1526-5900
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104732
Publication status	Published - Feb 2025

Keywords

2D-TGC
Pain
Psychophysics
Thermal Grill Illusion
Thermosensation

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10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104732

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@article{f1345f512fff41089507711d224238cb,

title = "Assessing individual sensitivity to the Thermal Grill Illusion: A two-dimensional adaptive psychophysical approach",

abstract = "In the Thermal Grill Illusion (TGI), the spatial alternation of non-noxious warm and cool temperatures elicits burning sensations that resemble the presence of noxious stimuli. Previous research has largely relied on the use of specific temperature values (i.e., 20 °C and 40 °C) to study this phenomenon in both healthy individuals and patient populations. However, this methodology fails to account for inter-individual differences in thermal sensitivity, limiting the precision with which TGI responses can be evaluated across diverse populations. To address this gap, we created a Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration (2D-TGC) protocol, enabling an efficient and precise estimation of the combinations of warm and cool temperatures needed to elicit burning sensations tailored to each individual. By applying the 2D-TGC protocol in 43 healthy participants, we demonstrated that the TGI can be thresholded using an adaptive psychophysical method, and that multiple combinations of warm and cool temperatures can elicit this phenomenon. More specifically, the protocol facilitated the identification of temperature combinations that elicit TGI with varying levels of probability, intensity, and perceived quality ranging from freezing cold to burning hot. Finally, our results indicate that TGI responsivity can be quantified as a continuous variable, moving beyond the conventional classification of individuals as responders vs. non-responders based on arbitrary temperature values in the innocuous temperature range. The 2D-TGC offers a comprehensive approach to investigate the TGI across populations with altered thermal sensitivity, and can be integrated with other methods (e.g., neuroimaging) to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system. Perspective: This study reveals that the Thermal Grill Illusion can be accurately measured using psychophysical methods. The innovative Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration protocol allows for personalized temperature assessments, enhancing our understanding of thermal sensitivity variations and perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system across different populations.",

keywords = "2D-TGC, Pain, Psychophysics, Thermal Grill Illusion, Thermosensation",

author = "Deolindo, {Camila Sardeto} and Ehmsen, {Jesper Fischer} and Courtin, {Arthur S.} and Mitchell, {Alexandra G.} and Kraenge, {Camilla E.} and Niia Nikolova and Allen, {Micah G.} and Francesca Fardo",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 United States Association for the Study of Pain, Inc.",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104732",

language = "English",

volume = "27",

journal = "Journal of Pain",

issn = "1526-5900",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Assessing individual sensitivity to the Thermal Grill Illusion: A two-dimensional adaptive psychophysical approach. / Deolindo, Camila Sardeto; Ehmsen, Jesper Fischer ; Courtin, Arthur S. et al.
In: Journal of Pain, Vol. 27, 104732, 02.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessing individual sensitivity to the Thermal Grill Illusion

T2 - A two-dimensional adaptive psychophysical approach

AU - Deolindo, Camila Sardeto

AU - Ehmsen, Jesper Fischer

AU - Courtin, Arthur S.

AU - Mitchell, Alexandra G.

AU - Kraenge, Camilla E.

AU - Nikolova, Niia

AU - Allen, Micah G.

AU - Fardo, Francesca

PY - 2025/2

Y1 - 2025/2

N2 - In the Thermal Grill Illusion (TGI), the spatial alternation of non-noxious warm and cool temperatures elicits burning sensations that resemble the presence of noxious stimuli. Previous research has largely relied on the use of specific temperature values (i.e., 20 °C and 40 °C) to study this phenomenon in both healthy individuals and patient populations. However, this methodology fails to account for inter-individual differences in thermal sensitivity, limiting the precision with which TGI responses can be evaluated across diverse populations. To address this gap, we created a Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration (2D-TGC) protocol, enabling an efficient and precise estimation of the combinations of warm and cool temperatures needed to elicit burning sensations tailored to each individual. By applying the 2D-TGC protocol in 43 healthy participants, we demonstrated that the TGI can be thresholded using an adaptive psychophysical method, and that multiple combinations of warm and cool temperatures can elicit this phenomenon. More specifically, the protocol facilitated the identification of temperature combinations that elicit TGI with varying levels of probability, intensity, and perceived quality ranging from freezing cold to burning hot. Finally, our results indicate that TGI responsivity can be quantified as a continuous variable, moving beyond the conventional classification of individuals as responders vs. non-responders based on arbitrary temperature values in the innocuous temperature range. The 2D-TGC offers a comprehensive approach to investigate the TGI across populations with altered thermal sensitivity, and can be integrated with other methods (e.g., neuroimaging) to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system. Perspective: This study reveals that the Thermal Grill Illusion can be accurately measured using psychophysical methods. The innovative Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration protocol allows for personalized temperature assessments, enhancing our understanding of thermal sensitivity variations and perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system across different populations.

AB - In the Thermal Grill Illusion (TGI), the spatial alternation of non-noxious warm and cool temperatures elicits burning sensations that resemble the presence of noxious stimuli. Previous research has largely relied on the use of specific temperature values (i.e., 20 °C and 40 °C) to study this phenomenon in both healthy individuals and patient populations. However, this methodology fails to account for inter-individual differences in thermal sensitivity, limiting the precision with which TGI responses can be evaluated across diverse populations. To address this gap, we created a Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration (2D-TGC) protocol, enabling an efficient and precise estimation of the combinations of warm and cool temperatures needed to elicit burning sensations tailored to each individual. By applying the 2D-TGC protocol in 43 healthy participants, we demonstrated that the TGI can be thresholded using an adaptive psychophysical method, and that multiple combinations of warm and cool temperatures can elicit this phenomenon. More specifically, the protocol facilitated the identification of temperature combinations that elicit TGI with varying levels of probability, intensity, and perceived quality ranging from freezing cold to burning hot. Finally, our results indicate that TGI responsivity can be quantified as a continuous variable, moving beyond the conventional classification of individuals as responders vs. non-responders based on arbitrary temperature values in the innocuous temperature range. The 2D-TGC offers a comprehensive approach to investigate the TGI across populations with altered thermal sensitivity, and can be integrated with other methods (e.g., neuroimaging) to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system. Perspective: This study reveals that the Thermal Grill Illusion can be accurately measured using psychophysical methods. The innovative Two-Dimensional Thermal Grill Calibration protocol allows for personalized temperature assessments, enhancing our understanding of thermal sensitivity variations and perceptual illusions in the thermo-nociceptive system across different populations.

KW - 2D-TGC

KW - Pain

KW - Psychophysics

KW - Thermal Grill Illusion

KW - Thermosensation

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DO - 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104732

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VL - 27

JO - Journal of Pain

JF - Journal of Pain

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Assessing individual sensitivity to the Thermal Grill Illusion: A two-dimensional adaptive psychophysical approach

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Keywords

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