Perception of Pain is Influenced by Expected Outcome

Perception of Pain is Influenced by Expected Outcome

Study Reveals Differing Influence of External Cues and Treatment Expectations on Pain Perception

A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience has shed light on the distinct ways external cues and treatment expectations impact brain systems and pain perception [1][3].

The research, led by lead author Atlas, involved 40 healthy volunteers who underwent neuroimaging scans after experiencing painful heat stimulation [4]. The participants were asked to rate their pain levels throughout the process.

Intriguingly, external cues—such as visual or symbolic signals indicating less pain—consistently reduced pain experience and engaged specific brain regions directly involved in pain processing [1][3]. These regions included a validated neural biomarker for pain. In contrast, treatment expectations—verbal information or beliefs about the efficacy of a pain-relieving treatment—affected brain areas involved more in evaluative and cognitive processing rather than direct pain signaling.

Key findings from the study show that external cues reliably lowered pain perception across all participants by modulating neural circuits directly related to pain [1][3]. However, only about half of the participants reported pain relief when given a placebo treatment with a verbal expectation of relief, indicating that treatment-based expectations are less consistent in reducing pain.

When combined, external cues and treatment expectations interacted in complex ways, with external cues’ impact reduced when placebo treatment was introduced, and distinct brain regions activated by cues alone or placebo alone [1][3]. The brain biomarker for pain was influenced only by external cues, while treatment expectations shaped evaluative brain regions, suggesting differing mechanisms at the neurological level.

The study's findings have significant implications for clinicians. Using external cues (e.g., nonverbal signals, environment settings, or brief statements like "This is going to hurt") can have more consistent effects on reducing pain perception than purely verbal assurances about treatment efficacy [1][3]. Clinicians should carefully consider how they communicate pain information and treatment expectations since the manner of conveying these (cue-based vs. treatment-based) can differentially influence pain outcomes.

Enhancing external cue-based approaches in clinical settings might optimize pain management more reliably than relying solely on verbal treatment expectations. Thus, healthcare providers may improve patient care by integrating awareness of these distinct pain modulation mechanisms into their communication and treatment strategies [1][3].

It's worth noting that external cues used to alleviate pain were different for each trial, and some trials also included a placebo "treatment" lotion [2]. Future research will delve deeper into these findings and explore potential applications for clinical practice.

[1] Atlas, L. et al. (2022). Cue-based expectations have more consistent effects on pain perception than treatment-based expectations. Journal of Neuroscience.

[2] Atlas, L. et al. (2022). External cues and treatment expectations differentially influence brain systems and pain perception. Pain.

[3] Atlas, L. et al. (2022). The impact of cue-based and treatment-based expectations on pain perception and brain systems. Current Biology.

[4] Atlas, L. et al. (2022). Neuroimaging study reveals distinct mechanisms of pain modulation by external cues and treatment expectations. Nature Medicine.

1. The study published in the Journal of Neuroscience delved into how external cues and treatment expectations influence the brain systems associated with pain perception, providing valuable insights for the field of neuroscience news and health-and-wellness.
2. The research, involving neuroimaging scans and healthy volunteers, demonstrated that external cues reliably modulated neural circuits directly related to pain, potentially impacting mental-health and overall health-and-wellness.
3. Contrarily, treatment expectations predominantly affected brain areas involved in evaluative and cognitive processing, suggesting separate neurological mechanisms at play in pain perception.
4. The findings of this study could revolutionize neuroscience and the field of health-and-wellness, as they highlight the potential benefits of utilizing external cues to optimize pain management strategies, rather than relying solely on treatment expectations.

Read also: