Patients with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type-III (HSAN-III) and type-V (HSAN-V), who also have congenital insensitivity to pain, have a reduced affective touch percept.50,51 HSAN-V is due to a mutation in the nerve growth factor beta gene (NGFβ). This evidence concerns the gene NGF and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 5.