Pain‐Related and Negative Semantic Priming Enhances Perceived Pain Intensity

Richter, Maria; Schroeter, Christoph; Puensch, Theresa; Straube, Thomas; Hecht, Holger; Ritter, Alexander; Miltner, Wolfgang H. R.; Weiß, Thomas

doi:10.1155/2014/425321

Cited by 35 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 50 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Non‐painful stimulation cued by sensory pain words resulted in higher intensity ratings than non‐painful stimulation cued by neutral words did. These findings align with other evidence that painful visual primes elicit comparatively higher intensity ratings of somatosensory stimuli (e.g., Dillmann et al., ; Meng et al., ; Richter et al., ), perhaps due to pre‐activating neural networks subserving pain memory and pain processing. Slower RTs in judging non‐painful stimulation cued by sensory pain words rather than neutral words may have illustrated a general interruptive function of pain cues on task‐related cognitive processing (e.g., Eccleston & Crombez, ; Van Damme et al., ) or effects of incongruent expectations in trials featuring painful visual primes and non‐painful stimulation (e.g., Fazio, ; Wiech, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Compared to neutral words, sensory pain words have been found to elicit elevations in subjective pain intensity (Richter et al., ), larger N2 and P2 amplitudes vis a vis laser‐evoked potentials (LEPs) in chronic pain patients (Weiss, Miltner, & Dillmann, ), and larger P370 amplitudes among pain‐free adults (Dillmann, Miltner, & Weiss, ). However, because FOP was not examined in these studies, it is not clear whether specific neural signatures that correspond to the processing of pain word cues also discriminate less from more trait pain‐fearful subgroups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of trait fear of pain on event‐related potentials during word cue presentations that signal potential pain

Zheng

Lyu

Jackson

2019

Eur J of Neuroscience

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People who are especially afraid of pain may display attention biases that increase their risk for developing chronic pain following an injury. However, specific neurophysiological mechanisms underlying associations between elevated trait fear of pain levels and environmental cues that signal potential pain experiences are not well understood. To address this gap, event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded among 39 high pain‐fearful (H‐FOP) and 36 low pain‐fearful (L‐FOP) adults exposed to potentially painful somatosensory stimulation cued by sensory pain words versus non‐painful stimulation cued by neutral words. H‐FOP group members displayed slower reaction times in judging somatosensory stimulation and rated stimulation to be more intense than L‐FOP group members did. H‐FOP group members also exhibited comparatively earlier peak latencies of P2 and N2 components during word cue presentations as well as weaker P3 amplitudes in processing non‐painful stimulation cued by sensory pain words. These findings suggested that, among the high trait pain‐fearful, exposure to word cues signaling potential pain results in the allocation of fewer cognitive resources toward processing somatosensory stimuli that are not actually painful.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of trait fear of pain on event‐related potentials during word cue presentations that signal potential pain

Zheng

Lyu

Jackson

2019

Eur J of Neuroscience

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“…For example, studies by Pulvermüller et al (Pulvermuller, ; Pulvermüller & Fadiga, ) showed that the presentation of action words such as singing and throwing not only activated semantic memory networks but simultaneously also representations of the mouth or arm in the primary motor cortex indicating that language might be embodied. Based on TNN and the theory of language embodiment, Richter and colleagues observed similar effects to pain‐related words that induced pain sensations although no painful stimuli were presented (Eck, Richter, Straube, Miltner, & Weiss, ; Richter et al, , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…For example, studies by Pulvermüller et al (Pulvermuller, 1999;Pulvermüller & Fadiga, 2010) showed that the presentation of action words such as singing and throwing not only activated semantic memory networks but simultaneously also representations of the mouth or arm in the primary motor cortex indicating that language might be embodied. Based on TNN and the theory of language embodiment, Richter and colleagues observed similar effects to pain-related words that induced pain sensations although no painful stimuli were presented (Eck, Richter, Straube, Miltner, & Weiss, 2011;Richter et al, 2010Richter et al, , 2014. Thus, specific predictions are possible for the priming effects evoked by negative versus pain-related words compared with neutral words: Elevated pain ratings and stronger cortical activation should be observed when pain-related and negative words compared with neutral words would be used as primes preceding or during painful stimulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How words impact on pain

et al. 2019

Self Cite

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Introduction The wording used before and during painful medical procedures might significantly affect the painfulness and discomfort of the procedures. Two theories might account for these effects: the motivational priming theory (Lang, 1995, American Psychologist, 50, 372) and the theory of neural networks (Hebb, 1949, The organization of behavior. New York, NY: Wiley; Pulvermuller, 1999, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 22, 253; Pulvermüller and Fadiga, 2010, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11, 351). Methods Using fMRI, we investigated how negative, pain‐related, and neutral words that preceded the application of noxious stimuli as priming stimuli affect the cortical processing and pain ratings of following noxious stimuli. Results Here, we show that both theories are applicable: Stronger pain and stronger activation were observed in several brain areas in response to noxious stimuli preceded by both, negative and pain‐related words, respectively, as compared to preceding neutral words, thus supporting motivational priming theory. Furthermore, pain ratings and activation in somatosensory cortices, primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, thalamus, putamen, and precuneus were even stronger for preceding pain‐related than for negative words supporting the theory of neural networks. Conclusion Our results explain the influence of wording on pain perception and might have important consequences for clinical work.

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“…Negative affective and pain-related cues may be an ongoing process in chronic pain patients (Richter et al, 2014). Thus, subconscious emotional and sensory aversion may contribute to maintaining the pain state.…”

Section: The Tipping Point: Neurobiological Processes Brain Dysfumentioning

confidence: 99%

Subliminal (latent) processing of pain and its evolution to conscious awareness

Borsook

Youssef

Barakat

et al. 2018

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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By unconscious or covert processing of pain we refer to nascent interactions that affect the eventual deliverance of pain awareness. Thus, internal processes (viz., repeated nociceptive events, inflammatory kindling, re-organization of brain networks, genetic) or external processes (viz., environment, socioeconomic levels, modulation of epigenetic status) contribute to enhancing or inhibiting the presentation of pain awareness. Here we put forward the notion that for many patients, ongoing sub-conscious changes in brain function are significant players in the eventual manifestation of chronic pain. In this review, we provide clinical examples of nascent or what we term pre-pain processes and the neurobiological mechanisms of how these changes may contribute to pain, but also potential opportunities to define the process for early therapeutic interventions.

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Pain‐Related and Negative Semantic Priming Enhances Perceived Pain Intensity

Abstract: Verbal priming plays a role for the perception of noxious stimuli in a time-dependent manner.

Cited by 35 publications

References 50 publications

Effects of trait fear of pain on event‐related potentials during word cue presentations that signal potential pain

Effects of trait fear of pain on event‐related potentials during word cue presentations that signal potential pain

How words impact on pain

Subliminal (latent) processing of pain and its evolution to conscious awareness

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