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The disruptive effects of pain on multitasking in a virtual errands task
1Liverpool John Moores University, UK; Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Liverpool John Moores University, UK.
Scandinavian Journal of Pain
|August 30, 2017
Summary
Pain significantly disrupts cognitive performance, especially during complex, real-world tasks. Individuals reporting higher cognitive intrusion from pain made more errors in a simulated errand task, highlighting the impact on daily functioning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Pain Research
- Human Factors
Background:
- Pain negatively impacts cognitive functions, but previous research often lacks real-world applicability.
- Everyday life demands complex task management, including prioritization and recall, even during painful episodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of experimentally induced pain on cognitive performance in a simulated real-world task.
- To assess the relationship between self-reported cognitive intrusion of pain and objective task performance.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-five healthy adults completed the Edinburgh Virtual Errands Task (EVET) under painful thermal stimulation or control conditions.
- Participants also completed the Experience of Cognitive Intrusion of Pain (ECIP) questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Individuals experiencing pain and reporting high cognitive intrusion made significantly more errors on the EVET.
- Self-reported cognitive intrusion on the ECIP correlated with performance errors in the simulated errand task.
Conclusions:
- Pain significantly impairs cognitive performance, particularly in ecologically valid, complex tasks.
- Self-reported cognitive intrusion is a relevant measure for understanding pain's impact on real-world cognition.
