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Subconscious manipulation of pain expectation can modulate cortical nociceptive processing
Gwyn N Lewis1, Adam Leys, David A Rice
1Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand.
Pain Practice : the Official Journal of World Institute of Pain
|December 12, 2013
Summary
Manipulating pain inhibition expectations enhanced perceived pain relief but did not alter reflex responses. This suggests psychological factors can boost conditioned pain modulation efficacy, relevant for clinical pain management.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Psychology
Background:
- Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is a top-down pain inhibitory process.
- The role of psychological factors, such as expectation, in modulating CPM is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if manipulating the expectation of pain inhibition can enhance CPM efficacy in healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- A CPM paradigm using nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) was employed.
- Participants received two conditioning stimuli (CS1 and CS2) with informed expectation of greater inhibition from CS2.
- NFR size, perceived pain, and expected pain modulation were measured.
Main Results:
- Perceived pain inhibition was significantly greater following CS2 compared to CS1.
- No significant differences were found in NFR size or expected pain modulation between CS1 and CS2.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced perceived pain inhibition, without changes in NFR size, suggests supraspinal mechanisms.
- Psychological manipulation of expectation can augment CPM, offering potential benefits for clinical pain populations with impaired pain inhibition.
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