title: Some Words Hurt More Than Others: Semantic Activation of Pain Concepts in Memory and Subsequent Experiences of Pain.
abstract: Theory suggests that as activation of pain concepts in memory increases, so too does subsequent pain perception. Previously, researchers have found that activating pain concepts in memory increases pain perception of subsequent painful stimuli, relative to neutral information. However, they have not attempted to quantify the nature of the association between information studied and ensuing pain perception. We subliminally presented words that had either a low or high degree of association to the word 'pain,' although this was only partially successful and some words were consciously perceived. Participants then received randomized laser heat stimuli, delivered at 1 of 3 intensity levels (low, moderate, high), and we measured the effect of this on behavioral and electrophysiological measures of pain. Participants (N = 27) rated moderate- and high-intensity laser stimuli as more painful after viewing high relative to low associates of pain; these effects remained present when we controlled for measures of mood, anxiety, and physical symptom reporting. Similar effects were observed physiologically, with higher stimulus negativity preceding after high relative to low associates and greater amplitudes for the N2 component of the laser-evoked potential after presentation of high associates in the moderate and high laser intensity conditions. These data support activation-based models of the effects of memory on pain perception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with current theories of memory and pain, we found that high, relative to low activation of pain concepts in memory increased psychological and physiological responses to laser-induced pain. The effect remained regardless of whether participants showed conscious awareness of activation. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Section for Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Ellen.Swannell@lthtr.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Ellen R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Swannell
authors.affiliation: CamPain Research Group, Division of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Human Pain Research Group, University of Manchester, Salford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anthony K P
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Section for Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011578:Psycholinguistics; D011897:Random Allocation; D012660:Semantics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Pain; electroencephalography; memory; priming