Testing links between pain-related biases in visual attention and recognition memory: An eye-tracking study based on an impending pain paradigm

Abstract

Although separate lines of research have evaluated pain-related biases in attention or memory, laboratory studies examining links between attention and memory for pain-related information have received little consideration. In this eye-tracking experiment, we assessed relations between pain-related attention biases (ABs) and recognition memory biases (MBs) among 122 pain-free adults randomly assigned to impending pain (n = 59) versus impending touch (n = 63) conditions wherein offsets of trials that included pain images were followed by subsequent possibly painful and non-painful somatosensory stimulation, respectively. Gaze biases of participants were assessed during presentations of pain-neutral (P-N) and happy-neutral (H-N) face image pairs within these conditions. Subsequently, condition differences in recognition accuracy for previously-viewed versus novel pained and happy face images were examined. Overall gaze durations were significantly longer for pain (versus neutral) faces that signaled impending pain than impending non-painful touch, particularly among the less resilient in the former condition. Impending pain cohorts also exhibited comparatively better recognition accuracy for both pained and happy face images. Finally, longer gaze durations on pain faces that signaled potential pain, but not potential touch, were related to more accurate recognition of previously-viewed pain faces. In sum, pain cues that signal potential personal discomfort maintain visual attention more fully and are subsequently recognized more accuracy than are pain cues that signal non-painful touch stimulation.

Moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study exploring the alteration of functional connectivity strength and functional connectivity

“…A recent study reported that pain cueing to personal potential discomfort led to more attention and was subsequently identified more accurately ( Zuo et al, 2022 ). It suggests that women who have experienced menstrual pain, especially if they are suffering from menstrual pain, will pay more attention to the painful period when they are about to have their period, due to the unpleasant memories of their previous periods.…”

Integrating the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) with an Eye Tracker: Feasibility and Initial Validation

“…In other words, participants mostly gazed at pain ratings that corresponded to the pain ratings their later chose (i.e., Median pain rating was 7) and to critical Pain Management -From Acute to Chronic and Beyond elements in the instructions. Regarding the latter, visual attention tends to be maintained on pain cues that signal potential personal discomfort [56]. It would therefore be of interest to assess in future studies whether patients tended to gaze more at verbal stimuli due to their content (e.g., "unbearable pain," which constitutes the rightward anchor) and whether this correlates with their pain ratings.…”