From past pain to future pain through the pain of others : information about other people's pain ratings can alleviate our subsequent pain

Background: Previous studies have shown that pain memories have a profound impact on subsequent pain experiences. This study investigated whether pain ratings derived from other people can modify an individual's memory of past pain. This study also examined whether pain memory modified by others' pain ratings determines subsequent pain experiences. Methods: Participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. Participants in both groups were exposed to pain stimulation; then, they recalled its intensity twice over a period of time; after a break, they were again exposed to pain stimulation of the same intensity. The final sample consisted of 53 participants. The only difference between the experimental group and the control group was that in the former the pain ratings of other alleged participants were presented between the two consecutive pain recalls. These ratings suggested that other people experienced the same pain as less intense. Results: The pain ratings derived from other people did not alter the pain memory; nevertheless, they affected an individual's next pain experience even for a certain period of time after their presentation. This type of pain- related information shaped participants' subsequent pain experiences regardless of their empathy, conformity, and susceptibility to social influence. Conclusions: Information on pain derived from other people not only shapes the response to a novel stimulation but also substantially modifies the subsequent experience of that stimulation. Significance: The study demonstrates the importance of social information on pain and provides evidence that this type of information substantially modifies the subsequent experience of the same pain. These results suggest that social in-formation on pain can be used to alleviate pain associated with recurring medical procedures and thus increase patients' willingness to continue treatment

Red induces hyperalgesia and white induces hypoalgesia regardless of pain modality

Colors are an important factor that influences different aspects of people's lives. However, little is known about the effects of colors on pain. This preregistered study aimed to investigate whether the type of pain affects the impact of colors on pain intensity. 74 participants were randomly divided into 2 groups according to the type of pain: electrical or thermal. In both groups, pain stimuli of the same intensity were preceded by different colors. Participants rated the pain intensity induced by each pain stimulus. Additionally, pain expectations related to each color were rated at the beginning and the end of the procedure. A significant effect of color on pain intensity ratings was found. Pain was most intense in both groups after red, whereas the lowest ratings were given after white. A similar pattern of results was observed for pain expectations. Expectations also correlated with and were found to be a predictor of experienced pain for white, blue, and green. The study shows that white can reduce, while red can alter the experienced pain. Moreover, it shows that the effect of colors is affected to a greater extent by the pain expectations rather than the pain modality. We conclude that the way colors influence pain broadens the current knowledge on effects of colors on human behavior and could help in the future both patients and practitioners

Development and cross‑national investigation of a model explaining participation in WHO‑recommended and placebo behaviours to prevent COVID‑19 infection

To protect themselves from COVID-19, people follow the recommendations of the authorities, but they also resort to placebos. To stop the virus, it is important to understand the factors underlying both types of preventive behaviour. This study examined whether our model (developed based on the Health Belief Model and the Transactional Model of Stress) can explain participation in WHO-recommended and placebo actions during the pandemic. Model was tested on a sample of 3346 participants from Italy, Japan, Poland, Korea, Sweden, and the US. It was broadly supported: objective risk and cues to action showed both direct and indirect (through perceived threat) associations with preventive behaviours. Moreover, locus of control, decision balance, health anxiety and preventive coping moderated these relationships. Numerous differences were also found between countries. We conclude that beliefs about control over health and perceived benefits of actions are critical to the development of interventions to improve adherence to recommendations

The effect of the self-confidence of a model on the magnitude of placebo analgesia induced by observational learning

Głównym celem badania było sprawdzenie, czy poziom pewności siebie modela wpływa na wielkość analgezji placebo wywołanej uczeniem się przez obserwację. Ponadto, sprawdzono, czy postrzegana własna skuteczność oraz samoocena obserwatora wpływają na ten proces.W eksperymencie uczestniczyło 60 osób, przypisanych losowo do 3 grup: 1) grupa z pewnym siebie modelem, 2) grupa z niepewnym siebie modelem, 3) grupa kontrolna. W pierwszej fazie eksperymentu, uczestnicy w grupach z manipulacją eksperymentalną oglądali pewnego siebie (1 grupa) lub niepewnego siebie (2 grupa) modela, otrzymującego elektryczne bodźce bólowe poprzedzane niebieskim oraz pomarańczowym kolorem. W zależności od warunku, jeden z kolorów pełnił funkcję placebo, a drugi funkcję kontrolną. Model na nagraniach oceniał bodźce bólowe następujące po kolorze placebo jako mniej bolesne, a następujące po kolorze kontrolnym jako bardziej bolesne. W drugiej fazie eksperymentu, uczestnicy przechodzili analogiczną procedurę badawczą. Otrzymywali bodźce bólowe o stałej intensywności wyznaczonej wcześniej podczas kalibracji, a ich zadaniem była ocena ich siły. Na koniec badani wypełnili kilka kwestionariuszy psychologicznych.Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników stwierdzono wystąpienie analgezji placebo – bodźce bólowe oceniane przez modela jako słabsze były tak również oceniane przez osoby badane. Co więcej, wykazano, że pewność siebie modela oraz postrzegana własna skuteczność obserwatora mają wpływ na wielkość analgetycznego efektu placebo wywołanego uczeniem się przez obserwację. Uzyskane wyniki rozwijają wiedzę na temat wpływu obserwacji innych osób na ból, co ma ważne implikacje praktyczne.The main aim of the study was to investigate whether the level of self-confidence of the model influences the effectiveness of observational learning in inducing placebo analgesia.The experiment consisted of three groups: 1) high self-confident model, 2) low self-confident model, 3) control group. In experimental groups, participants watched a video in which pain ratings were made by a self-confident (group 1) or low self-confident (group 2) model. Ratings preceded by one of the colors were higher than those preceded by the other color. In the control group, no video was displayed. Then 16 electrical pain stimuli of the same intensity, preceded by the blue or orange color, were applied in all groups. Participants rated each of them on the NRS scale. Although placebo analgesia was found, its magnitude did not differ between both experimental groups. Nevertheless, the self-confidence of the model was a significant predictor of the magnitude of placebo analgesia

The role of the observers' perception of a model's self-confidence in observationally induced placebo analgesia

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a model's self-confidence as well as the observer's self-esteem and self-efficacy on observationally acquired placebo analgesia. In addition, we aimed to verify the stability of the placebo effect induced by observational learning. Participants (n = 60) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a self-confident model, an unself-confident model, and a control group. In the experimental groups, participants watched a videotaped model who rated the intensity of electrocutaneous pain stimuli applied in the placebo condition as lower than those applied in the non-placebo condition. The different levels of self-confidence in these groups were manifested in the body posture and facial expressions of the model as well as in specific behavior that accompanied the assessment of pain. Then, 16 electrocutaneous pain stimuli of the same intensity, preceded by the placebo or non-placebo, were applied to participants. In both experimental groups, in contrast to the control group, participants experienced less pain in the placebo than in the non-placebo condition. Although the magnitude of placebo analgesia did not differ between the experimental groups, multiple regression analysis revealed that the perceived self-confidence of the model, but not the self-efficacy or self-esteem of the observer, was a significant predictor of the placebo effect. Moreover, placebo analgesia induced by observational learning did not extinguish over the course of the experiment. These results support the premise that the observers’ perception of a model's self-confidence plays a significant role in placebo effects

Red induces hyperalgesia and white induces hypoalgesia regardless of pain modality

Colors are an important factor that influences different aspects of people's lives. However, little is known about the effects of colors on pain. This preregistered study aimed to investigate whether the type of pain affects the impact of colors on pain intensity. 74 participants were randomly divided into 2 groups according to the type of pain: electrical or thermal. In both groups, pain stimuli of the same intensity were preceded by different colors. Participants rated the pain intensity induced by each pain stimulus. Additionally, pain expectations related to each color were rated at the beginning and the end of the procedure. A significant effect of color on pain intensity ratings was found. Pain was most intense in both groups after red, whereas the lowest ratings were given after white. A similar pattern of results was observed for pain expectations. Expectations also correlated with and were found to be a predictor of experienced pain for white, blue, and green. The study shows that white could reduce, while red can alter the experienced pain. Moreover, it shows that the effect of colors is affected to a greater extent by the pain expectations rather than the pain modality. We conclude that the way colors influence pain broadens the current knowledge on effects of colors on human behavior and could help in the future both patients and practitioners

Effect of pain modality and colors on pain perception

This project aims to study wheater the influence of colors on pain perception is changing depending of the modality (type) of pain

Age as a moderator in the interplay between locus of control, coping, and quality of life of chronic pain sufferers

Objective: Identifying the factors that determine the quality of life of patients with chronic pain is an integral part of developing interventions to reduce the negative impact of persistent pain. Locus of control (LoC) could play an important role in adaptation to prolonged pain, but the results of studies are inconsistent. We examined the link between pain LoC and quality of life. Moreover, we investigated whether the relationship between LoC and quality of life is mediated by passive and active coping, and whether age moderates the LoC–coping relationship. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, and variables (internal, chance and powerful-others LoC, pain coping strategies, average pain intensity, and quality of life) were assessed via questionnaires in a sample of 594 individuals (67% females) with chronic pain who were 18–72 (mean: 36) years of age. Results: Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted. Internal and external LoC were associated, respectively, with better and with worse quality of life. Passive coping mediated the association between the powerful-others dimension of LoC and poor quality of life. Additionally, indirect effects of internal LoC on quality of life via passive and active coping were found. The relationship between the powerful-others dimension of LoC and coping was stronger for middle-aged and older individuals than for younger individuals. Conclusions: This study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms linking LoC with quality of life of patients with chronic pain. Depending on the age, control beliefs might translate differently into strategies used to cope with pain, and thus into quality of life