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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation
Published on: August 26, 2011
Pain and emotion: new research directions
F J Keefe1, M Lumley, T Anderson
1Pain Prevention and Treatment Research, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. keefe003@mc.duke.edu
Abstract:
Recently, there has been growing interest in the relation between pain and emotion. Numerous recent studies have been conducted in this area. This article provides an introduction to this interesting area by highlighting selected research topics including studies on: stress and pain, negative emotional states and pain, catastrophizing and pain, the fear of pain, emotional regulation processes and pain, the effects of enhancing emotional regulation on pain, and the relation of emotional distress to treatment seeking in persons having pain. The article concludes with a discussion of important directions for future research in this area.
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