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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Pain, dissociation and subliminal self-representations.

¹Center for Neuropsychiatric Research of Traumatic Stress & Department of Psychiatry, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 11, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic. petrbob@netscape.net

Consciousness and Cognition

|January 22, 2008

Summary

Pain and consciousness share neurophysiological mechanisms. Dissociation, a defense against pain, influences consciousness and may involve unconscious processing and subliminal self-representations.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychology
Cognitive Science

Background:

Neurophysiological processes of pain are linked to consciousness.
Altered states of consciousness (hypnosis, dissociation) affect pain perception and brain function.
Painful experiences can lead to dissociation and unconscious information processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the relationship between pain, dissociation, and consciousness.
To investigate the hypothesis of dissociation as a defense mechanism against pain.
To examine the role of unconscious information processing and self-representation in consciousness.

Main Methods:

Review of recent evidence on neurophysiological processes.
Analysis of findings related to hypnosis and traumatic dissociation.
Examination of research on unconscious information storage and processing.

Main Results:

Common neurophysiological mechanisms exist for pain and dissociation.
Dissociation may serve as a defense mechanism influencing consciousness.
Unconsciously processed information suggests links between conscious content and self-representation.

Conclusions:

Neurophysiological aspects of consciousness are integral to pain and dissociation.
Dissociation involves subliminal self-representations inaccessible to dominant awareness.
Understanding these links is crucial for therapies involving traumatic memories.