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After‐effects of cognitive control on pain
Author(s) -
Silvestrini N.,
Rainville P.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2013.00299.x
Subject(s) - cognition , nociception , psychology , cognitive resource theory , task (project management) , noxious stimulus , elementary cognitive task , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , physical medicine and rehabilitation , audiology , medicine , receptor , management , economics
Background The higher order processes involved in self‐regulation are generally thought to depend on cognitive (attentional/executive) functions with limited resources. Experimental studies further show that exerting self‐control in a first task results in decreased performance in other following self‐control tasks, which may be interpreted as the consequence of either effective or perceived resource depletion outlasting the first task. Given that higher order cognitive/attentional processes are also considered to be involved in pain modulatory mechanisms, we tested the idea that pain could be influenced by prior mobilization of cognitive resources. Methods The present study investigated the consequences of performing a cognitively demanding task on subsequent pain (ratings) and spinal nociceptive responses (nociceptive flexion reflex, NFR ) elicited by noxious electrical stimulations in healthy volunteers. Participants received four noxious stimulations immediately after each of six successive blocks (2 min each) of a numerical S troop task in a neutral condition (low cognitive demand) and six successive blocks in an interference condition (high cognitive demand). Results Results revealed that pain was rated higher following the condition requiring higher cognitive control. A similar effect was observed on the NFR . Conclusions These findings suggest that pain regulation mechanisms including the descending pain modulatory system may be less efficient after the performance of tasks requiring high cognitive control resulting in stronger pain experience.