Optimizing audiovisual itch induction: the role of attention and expectancy

Laarhoven, Antoinette I. M. van; Holle, Henning

doi:10.1111/bjd.18596

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Furthermore, the actual task that needed to be executed (identification of dot orientation) was not related to itch and therefore not directly related to the priming, which could also decrease its effectiveness. Lastly, in the current study, the priming and the actual task were in different modalities (feeling and hearing during priming and visual processing during the task) [54].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

No preconscious attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals

et al. 2022

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Rapidly attending towards potentially harmful stimuli to prevent possible damage to the body is a critical component of adaptive behavior. Research suggests that individuals display an attentional bias, i.e., preferential allocation of attention, for consciously perceived bodily sensations that signal potential threat, like itch or pain. Evidence is not yet clear whether an attentional bias also exists for stimuli that have been presented for such a short duration that they do not enter the stream of consciousness. This study investigated whether a preconscious attentional bias towards itch-related pictures exists in 127 healthy participants and whether this can be influenced by priming with mild itch-related stimuli compared to control stimuli. Mild itch was induced with von Frey monofilaments and scratching sounds, while control stimuli where of matched modalities but neutral. Attentional bias was measured with a subliminal pictorial dot-probe task. Moreover, we investigated how attentional inhibition of irrelevant information and the ability to switch between different tasks, i.e., cognitive flexibility, contribute to the emergence of an attentional bias. Attentional inhibition was measured with a Flanker paradigm and cognitive flexibility was measured with a cued-switching paradigm. Contrary to our expectations, results showed that participants attention was not biased towards the itch-related pictures, in facts, attention was significantly drawn towards the neutral pictures. In addition, no effect of the itch-related priming was observed. Finally, this effect was not influenced by participants’ attentional inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Therefore, we have no evidence for a preconscious attentional bias towards itch stimuli. The role of preconscious attentional bias in patients with chronic itch should be investigated in future studies.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

No preconscious attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals

et al. 2022

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“…Unique for itch compared to pain is that it can be further amplified or even induced audiovisually (e.g., by hearing scratch sounds or looking at pictures of scratching people); i.e., itch is contagious and this is amplified in itch patients ( 6 ). A key mechanism of contagious itch is attention ( 7 , 8 ). Focusing attention on potential threat is essential to sort its nocifensive function and protect skin integrity ( 9 , 10 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attentional Bias Modification Training for Itch: A Proof-of-Principle Study in Healthy Individuals

et al. 2021

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Itch draws our attention to allow imposing action against bodily harm (e.g., remove insects). At the same time, itch is found to interfere with ongoing tasks and daily life goals. Despite the key role of attention in itch processing, interventions that train individuals to automatically disengage attention from itch cues are lacking. The present proof-of-principle attention bias modification (ABM) training study was aimed at investigating whether attention to itch as well as sensitivity to mild itch can be changed. Healthy volunteers were randomized over three ABM-training conditions. Training was done via a modified pictorial dot-probe task. In particular, participants were trained to look away from itch stimuli (n = 38), toward itch stimuli (n = 40) or not trained toward or away from itch at all (sham training, n = 38). The effects of the ABM-training were tested primarily on attention to itch pictures. Secondarily, it was investigated whether training effects generalized to alterations in attention to itch words and mechanical itch sensitivity. The ABM-training did not alter attention toward the itch pictures, and there was no moderation by baseline levels of attention bias for itch. Also, attention bias to the itch words and itch sensitivity were not affected by the ABM-training. This study was a first step toward trainings to change attention toward itch. Further research is warranted to optimize ABM-training methodology, for example increasing motivation of participants. Eventually, an optimized training could be used in patient populations who suffer most from distraction by their symptoms of itch.Clinical Trial Registration: Identifier: NL6134 (NTR6273). The website URL is: https://www.trialregister.nl/

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“…Although a sensitivity analysis revealed no significant change in findings when participants who finished the survey very quickly or slowly were excluded, and prior work indicates that presenting information online can modulate for instance the need for information about nocebo effects, 35 some degree of inattention to the suggestions is still possible. Finally, it has been proposed that attention and expectancy may be separate constructs, that are both able to influence contagious itch 24 . While the suggestions aimed to elicit positive expectancies and lower itch, they may have also redirected more attention towards physical sensations, which has been shown to be associated with increased itch sensitivity 36 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Negative suggestions, on the contrary, could draw attention to and as such increase itch elicited by audiovisual cues. 24 The present study had two main goals: first, we aimed to replicate the results of previous research and investigate whether sounds of scratching induce sensations of itch to a higher extent than rubbing sounds. Secondly, we studied whether it is possible to change the expectancies of participants regarding contagious itch and modulate contagious itch intensity using negative and positive suggestions.…”

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confidence: 94%

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Can contagious itch be affected by positive and negative suggestions?

Meeuwis

Skvortsova

Laarhoven

et al. 2022

Experimental Dermatology

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Contagious itch can be evoked by observing people scratching. Verbal suggestions about tobe-received itch can influence itch intensity, as shown by placebo research, but it is unknown whether this extends to contagious itch. The current study aimed to replicate prior findings that listening to scratching and rubbing sounds elicits contagious itch, and to investigate whether suggestions can modulate this process. Healthy participants (n=140) received positive or negative suggestions about itch in response to the sounds (aimed to decrease or increase expected itch, respectively), or no specific suggestions as a control. Participants listened to a number of audio fragments with scratching and rubbing sounds. The amount of expected itch as well as itch sensation after each audio fragment were measured by self-report. Suggestions had no effect on the expected itch. Both rubbing and scratching sounds significantly elicited itch in all groups. Scratching sounds induced more itch than rubbing sounds exclusively in the control group. These findings indicate that short suggestions might be not effective enough to modify the expectations of people regarding contagious itch. Furthermore, suggestions modulate contagious itch to some degree, but not in the hypothesized direction. Potential similarities and differences in the neurobiological mechanisms of contagious itch and nocebo effects are discussed.

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Optimizing audiovisual itch induction: the role of attention and expectancy

Abstract: Linked Article: Marzell et al. Br J Dermatol 2020; 182:1253–1261.

Cited by 5 publications

References 10 publications

No preconscious attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals

No preconscious attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals

Attentional Bias Modification Training for Itch: A Proof-of-Principle Study in Healthy Individuals

Can contagious itch be affected by positive and negative suggestions?

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