Distraction from pain and executive functioning: An experimental investigation of the role of inhibition, task switching and working memory

Katrien Verhoeven*, Stefaan Van Damme, Christopher Eccleston, Dimitri M. L. Van Ryckeghem, Valery Legrain, Geert Crombez

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Although many studies have investigated the effectiveness of distraction as a method of pain control, the cognitive processes by which attentional re-direction is achieved, remain unclear. In this study the role of executive functioning abilities (inhibition, task switching and working memory) in the effectiveness of distraction is investigated. We hypothesized that the effectiveness of distraction in terms of pain reduction would be larger in participants with better executive functioning abilities. Ninety-one undergraduate students first performed executive functioning tasks, and subsequently participated in a cold pressor task (CPT). Participants were randomly assigned to (1) a distraction group, in which an attention-demanding tone-detection task was performed during the CPT, or (2) a control group, in which no distraction task was performed. Participants in the distraction group reported significantly less pain during the CPT, but the pain experience was not influenced by executive functioning abilities. However, the performance on the distraction task improved with better inhibition abilities, indicating that inhibition abilities might be important in focussing on a task despite the pain. (C) 2011 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)866-873
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Pain
Volume15
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Attention
  • Executive functioning
  • Inhibition
  • Switching
  • Working memory
  • COLD-PRESSOR PAIN
  • LATENT-VARIABLE ANALYSIS
  • INTERFERENCE CONTROL
  • ATTENTIONAL CONTROL
  • PREFRONTAL CORTEX
  • PERCEPTION
  • TOLERANCE
  • DISTRESS
  • HYPERVIGILANCE
  • FIBROMYALGIA

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