Marijtje Jongsma (51), neuroscientist and associate professor at Radboud University in Nijmegen, shares her expertise on this intriguing question.
Marijtje Jongsma: "There's a key distinction between nociception—the detection of harmful stimuli—and pain, which is an emotion generated in the brain. Imagine me pressing a skewer against your arm. Initially, you feel pressure. But as I push harder, it crosses into nociception, activating different nerves. We call this transition point the pain threshold. This example illustrates an external threat clearly, but most pain arises without obvious triggers, like abdominal discomfort, migraines, or post-surgical ache. These are tougher to quantify because they're deeply personal experiences."
"Your pain threshold is influenced by physical traits—nerves closer to the skin mean quicker pain response. Conditions or injuries can heighten sensitivity; for instance, burned skin often makes surrounding areas hypersensitive. Skin thickness matters, but so does how your brain interprets signals. Pain's subjectivity means you can't dismiss it as feigned—it's real for the individual. Yet, we often overlook it. Empathy flows easier for visible injuries like a broken leg than invisible ones, where we might suspect exaggeration."
Read also the answer to the question “why are we blushing?”
"Yes, but why would you want to? Pain signals danger. You can temporarily ease it with counter-stimulation—like rubbing a bumped knee—which triggers the brain's endogenous opioid system to release endorphins, our natural painkillers. Distraction and relaxation help too, preventing muscle guarding that amplifies discomfort. In high-stakes scenarios like elite sports or combat injuries, stress-induced analgesia kicks in during fight-or-flight, dulling pain until safety returns. A healthy lifestyle also bolsters resilience."
Image: Getty Images; Text: Maike Abma
