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Brief and context-free color-pain interaction: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for awareness-dependent
Yipeng Yao1, Ruidi Wang1, Yiru Lin1
1State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Science and Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Neuroimage
|June 30, 2026
Summary
Briefly viewing red light, when consciously perceived, intensifies pain. This color-pain interaction occurs without embodiment and shows distinct neural timing, with pain influencing color processing more rapidly than vice versa.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Pain perception is influenced by sensory inputs beyond nociception.
- Previous studies show prolonged light exposure or embodied color manipulation affects pain.
- A gap exists in understanding brief, context-free color's impact on pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if brief, context-free color exposure modulates pain perception.
- To explore the role of conscious perception in color-pain interactions.
- To characterize the neural dynamics of this interaction using electroencephalography (EEG).
Main Methods:
- Participants viewed brief, context-free color flashes (including red) and experienced thermal/electrical stimuli.
- Behavioral pain ratings were collected.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) with Global Field Power analysis examined neural responses.
Main Results:
- Consciously perceived red light significantly increased thermal and electrical pain.
- Color stimuli shortened latencies of pain-related neural components; red selectively affected the earlier component.
- Pain enhanced color-related neural component amplitude, showing faster processing than color-induced pain modulation.
Conclusions:
- Color can modulate pain perception in an awareness-dependent manner, without embodiment or prolonged exposure.
- Color-pain interaction has distinct neural timing, with pain influencing color processing more rapidly.
- This temporal asymmetry may reflect sensory processing priorities for danger detection.
