L10 - Perception of pain

Question 1

Why do we experience pain?

Answer 1

warning signal –> pain is a warning to avoid bodily harm

cognitive dimensions –> pain teaches us to avoid to reduce harmful behaviours

Question 2

What are the 3 types of pain?

Answer 2

Nociceptive pain –> detected by nociceptors (pain receptors)

inflammatory pain –> caused by tissue damage or inflammation

Neuropathic pain –> results from nervous system damage (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome)

Question 3

What is the function of pain sensation?

Answer 3

helps avoid skin damage

Question 4

what is the pathway for pain sensation?

Answer 4

signals carried through the spinothalamic pathway to sub-cortical + cortical areas

Question 5

what is the pain matrix?

Answer 5

Network of cortical and subcortical areas activated by nociceptors, accounting for sensory and affective aspects of pain

Question 6

what are the 5 cognitive aspects of pain perception?

Answer 6

Attention
Emotional state
Music
Hypnosis
Empathy

Question 7

What study supports attention?

Answer 7

McCaul & Haugtevdt (1982)
Distraction increases pain tolerance and delays pain sensation

Question 8

What study supports emotional state?

Answer 8

De Wied & Verbaten (2001)
Viewing pleasant images increases pain tolerance

Question 9

What study supports music?

Answer 9

Roy et al. (2008)
Pleasant music reduces pain unpleasantness compared to silence or unpleasant music

Question 10

What studies support hypnosis ?

Answer 10

Elkins et al. (2007): Hypnosis significantly reduces chronic pain.

Freeman et al. (2000): High hypnotizable individuals benefit more from hypnosis for pain relief.

Question 11

What study supports empathy?

Answer 11

Singer et al. (2004): Observing pain in others activates emotional but not sensory pain areas in the brain.

Question 12

What’s the placebo effect?

Answer 12

Beneficial response to an inactive treatment

Kaptchuk et al. (2014): Placebo effects occur even when patients know they are receiving a placebo

Question 13

What’s the nocebo effect?

Answer 13

Negative side effects from an inactive treatment

Elsenbruch et al. (2012): Expectation of pain increase can cause higher pain perception.

Question 14

What’s the difference between sex and thresholds for pain tolerance?

Answer 14

Females generally have lower tolerance for pressure and thermal pain.

No significant sex differences in pain intensity or unpleasantness.

Fillingim et al. (2009): Females report higher prevalence of neuropathic, musculoskeletal, headache, and abdominal pain.