Perception of Pain Flashcards
Why do we experience pain?
It acts as a warning signal to aovid bodily harm
Why is there a cognitive dimension to pain?
Learning how to avoid and reduce pain
What are the types of pain sensation?
Nociceptive pain is sensed by nociceptors (pain receptors)
Inflammatory pain is damage to tissue or inflammation
Neuropathic pain is damage to the nervous system
Why is pain sensation important and how does it happen?
Important function to avoid damage to the skin. Signals are carried to sub-cortical and cortical areas through the spinothalamic pathway
What is the pain matrix?
Cortical and sub-cortical areas activated by nociceptors. Accounts for sensory and affective aspects of pain
Describe and explain the study using distraction to lower pain perception
McCaul and Haugtevdt (1982) - Ppts put hands in child water - either pay attention to hand or wall. Time taken to feel pain: sensation - 20s, distraction - 76s. Max time tolerated: sensation - 69s, distraction - 99s
Describe and explain the study using emotional state to lower pain perception
De Wied and Verbaten (2001) - Ppts placed hand in cold water and were shown either pleasant, neutral or unpleasant images. Pain tolerance highest when viewing pleasant images
Describe and explain the study using music to lower pain perception
Roy et al (2008) - Painful heart stimulations were subjects rate intensity of pain on scale of 1 to 100. 3 conditions (silence, unpleasant music, pleasant music). Average silence - 60, unpleasant - 60.1, pleasant - 47.8
Describe and explain the study using hypnosis to lower pain perception
Freeman et al. (2000) - Cold presser pain, ppts had a walking relaxation condition followed by hypnosis or distraction. Classified as low hypnotisable or high hypnotisable
What other study used hypnosis to lower pain perception?
Elkins et al (2007) - Review of hypnotherapy for the management of chronic pain, hypnosis interventions consistently produced significant decreases in apin
Describe and explain the study using empathy to lower pain perception
Singer et al (2004) - Ppts received painful stimuli and observed real partner receive ins pain. Observing pain in others activated areas of brain associated with emotional responses to pain, but no sense or responses to pain (cerebellum - both, sensorimotor cortex - receiving)
What is the placebo effect?
Beneficial response to a treatment that doesn’t contain any active substances
What affects the placebo effect?
Type of pill - branded versus generic
Colour - red and yellow (stimulant), green and blue (tranquil)
Who administers it - machine versus doctor
