The sensation of pain partly acts as a self preservation method (i.e heat, sharpness = potential damage to the body) is it possible for the pain response to be triggered by something non damaging or vice versa?

Question

The sensation of pain partly acts as a self preservation method (i.e heat, sharpness = potential damage to the body) is it possible for the pain response to be triggered by something non damaging or vice versa?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Indigenous people from equatorial cultures who have never experienced anything frozen before will often spit out ice cream the first time they have it, shouting, “Hot! Hot!” Not sure it qualifies as an answer to your question, but their pain response is triggered by ice cream, which is not damaging, lactose intolerance notwithstanding. I imagine it only takes a matter of seconds before they realize they were just confused and want to try it again.