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The effect of disgust on pain sensitivity
Megan J Oaten1, Richard J Stevenson2, Trevor I Case2
1Department of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Southport QLD4222, Australia.
Physiology & Behavior
|December 3, 2014
Summary
Experiencing disgust, a basic emotion, may increase pain sensitivity. This effect parallels physiological changes seen in the body's acute phase response to pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychophysiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The emotion of disgust is linked to physiological changes such as immune response up-regulation, increased core-body temperature, and reduced appetite.
- These physiological changes resemble the body's acute phase response, typically triggered by pathogen detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if disgust induction also leads to increased pain sensitivity, a predicted component of the acute phase response.
- To examine the time course of pain sensitivity changes following disgust induction.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent two experimental sessions: one with an emotion induction (disgust, negative, or positive) and a neutral control induction.
- Pain sensitivity was assessed using a cold-pressor task before and after each induction, with ratings taken at 15 and 30 minutes post-induction.
Main Results:
- Following disgust induction, average pain intensity initially decreased then increased over time, relative to the neutral control and pre-test.
- Negative and positive emotion inductions showed the opposite pattern of pain intensity changes.
- These findings suggest disgust uniquely influences pain perception over time.
Conclusions:
- Disgust induction may increase pain sensitivity, mirroring changes in core-body temperature and immune function.
- The temporal pattern of pain sensitivity alteration following disgust warrants further investigation into underlying mechanisms.
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