Odors modulate pain perception: a gender-specific effect

Odors naturally provoke emotions that are pleasant or unpleasant. Prior studies have demonstrated the effects of pleasing odors on cognition and mood perception, but no studies have reported if they influence pain perception. In the present study, we measured the effect of, and relationship between, different odors on mood and experimental pain perception. Results show that odors significantly influence mood in both women and men. Compared to a neutral odor, pleasant odors produced a positive mood while unpleasant odors produced a negative mood. However, the effect of odor on pain was gender specific, as only women experienced the effects of odor on pain perception. Because no relationship was found between mood and pain perception, it could suggest that different mechanisms are involved in the emotional aspects of mood and pain perception. These results and their potential clinical implications are discussed.