Heat pain threshold and tolerance show no left–right perceptual differences at complementary sites of the human forearm

Pain threshold and pain tolerance of heat noxious stimuli were assessed to determine whether they are equivalent when measured at three equidistant sites of both volar forearms. Heat pain threshold and tolerance were measured in 18 healthy volunteers using a standard stimulation device consisting of a thermode. Pain threshold and pain tolerance did not differ within and across forearm sites. Experimenters addressing heat pain threshold and tolerance in healthy volunteers may freely choose and change stimulation sites on both volar forearms, without the risk of confounding site effects on dependent variables. This data completes previous reports on side effects by analyzing the effect of site on the forearm for both heat pain threshold and tolerance. The absence of side and site effects may contribute to setting a more secure basis for assessments of laterality effects of painful stimulation.