cliff "et al.", 1994, performed a study to discover more about the properties of the menthol receptor and whether menthol had the ability to cross-desensitize with other chemical irritant receptors. capsaicin was known to cross-desensitize with other irritant agonists, where the same information was not known about menthol. the study involved subjects swishing either menthol or capsaicin for an extended time at regular intevals. there were three significant conclusions about cross-desensitizing: 1) both chemicals self-desensitize, 2) menthol receptors can desensitize in response to capsaicin, and, most novelly, 3) capsaicin receptors are sensitized in response to menthol.