Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Controlling pain reports through operant conditioning: a laboratory demonstration.

S J Linton, K G Götestam

Perceptual and Motor Skills

|April 1, 1985

Summary

This study shows that pain reports can be operantly conditioned. Verbal reinforcement significantly altered pain ratings, supporting the operant view of pain perception.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Correction to: Implementation of Early Intervention Protocol in Australia for 'High Risk' Injured Workers is Associated with Fewer Lost Work Days Over 2 Years Than Usual (Stepped) Care.

Journal of occupational rehabilitation·2019

Same author

Implementation of Early Intervention Protocol in Australia for 'High Risk' Injured Workers is Associated with Fewer Lost Work Days Over 2 Years Than Usual (Stepped) Care.

Journal of occupational rehabilitation·2019

Same author

A longitudinal view of rumination, poor sleep and psychological distress in adolescents.

Journal of affective disorders·2018

Same author

Longitudinal associations between time spent using technology and sleep duration among adolescents.

Journal of adolescence·2018

Same author

Predicting Return to Work in a Heterogeneous Sample of Recently Injured Workers Using the Brief ÖMPSQ-SF.

Journal of occupational rehabilitation·2018

Same author

Avoiding or enduring painful sex? A prospective study of coping and psychosexual function in vulvovaginal pain.

European journal of pain (London, England)·2018

Area of Science:

Psychology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Pain perception is complex, influenced by both physiological and psychological factors.
Understanding the role of behavioral conditioning in pain reporting is crucial for developing effective pain management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of operant conditioning on the reporting of pain.
To determine if pain reports can be systematically altered through reinforcement.

Main Methods:

Two laboratory experiments were conducted.
Experiment 1 involved reinforcing increases or decreases in pain ratings while keeping the noxious stimulus constant.
Experiment 2 manipulated pain stimulus levels and correlated them with reinforced pain reports.

Main Results:

Verbal reinforcement significantly altered subjects' pain reports, demonstrating a clear difference between reinforced increases and decreases.
In Experiment 2, pain reports increased even as the noxious stimulus decreased when reinforcement was applied for higher pain reports.
A strong correlation was observed between pain ratings and stimulation levels under neutral feedback conditions.

Conclusions:

The findings support the operant conditioning model of pain perception.
Pain reporting is amenable to behavioral modification through reinforcement principles.
Operant conditioning plays a significant role in how individuals report their pain experiences.

Related Experiment Videos