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- Title
The classical conditioning of pain.
- Authors
Kang, S.; van Ryckeghem, D.; Vlaeyen, J.; Crombez, G.
- Abstract
Introduction: The idea that chronic pain may be a consequence of classical conditioning has been advocated in contemporary theories aiming to explain pain maintenance in medically unexplained pain conditions [1-3]. Supposedly, conditioned stimuli themselves may be reported as the cause of pain, in the absence of the painful input (US). Empirical evidence is largely lacking. Methods: In a virtual reality driven task, healthy participants (N = 21) learned that one pen (CS+) was predictive of a painful electrocutaneous stimulus (US; US low = pin prick threshold, US high = added 20%), while another pen (CS-) was not. The acquisition phase was one block of 20 trials (CS+: 80% reinforcement; CS-: 0%). Consecutively, 4 identical test phases had 32 trials each (CS+: 37.5% reinforcement; CS-: 0%). The main outcome was reporting the US in its absence (false alarm). Results: Self-reported attention, pain, fear and US expectancy were significantly (p < 0.0005) higher for CS+, showing successful conditioning. False alarms occurred in 2.52% trials (1.51% for the CS+). The CS+ (n = 33) had significantly more (.50%) false alarms than CS-. Discussion: The results provide first evidence that a low form of pain i.e. pin prick can be classically conditioned. Further research is needed to better understand the conditions under which it is most possible. Process evaluation: The process of coming up with the most efficient paradigm and translating it into the VR has been a tremendous learning process. One significant challenge that stands out is identifying a measure to gain better insight into the nature of each false alarm.
- Subjects
NETHERLANDS; PAIN; CONFERENCES &; conventions; CONDITIONED response
- Publication
Pain Practice, 2022, Vol 22, p21
- ISSN
1530-7085
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/papr.13128