Pain is a conscious experience, crucial for survival. To investigate the neural basis of pain
perception in humans, a large number of investigators apply noxious stimuli to the body of …

In this article, we provide an evidence-based review of pain beliefs and their influence on
pain perception and response to treatment. We examine the nature of pain perception and …

It is widely assumed that distraction reduces pain. Similarly, it is assumed that pain distracts
from concurrent, unrelated cognitive processing, reducing performance on difficult tasks …

Research on the effectiveness of distraction as a method of pain control is inconclusive. One
mechanism pertains to the motivational relevance of distraction tasks. In this study the …

Objective This study examined whether increasing the demand for central cognitive
processing involved in a distraction task, by involving the child in ongoing, effortful …

Successful behavior requires the attentional selection and preferred processing of
behaviorally relevant sensory information. Painful stimuli are of utmost behavioral relevance …

Brief radiant laser pulses selectively activate skin nociceptors and elicit transient brain
responses (laser-evoked potentials [LEPs]). When LEPs are elicited by pairs of stimuli (S1 …

Pain sensitivity is an adaptive process affected by expectation, mood, coping, operant
conditioning, and the preconscious allocation of attention. Underlying mechanisms may …

This thesis aims to provide a contribution to the current neurophysiological and
psychophysiological understanding of nociception and pain processing in humans. The …

This study investigated the effects of spatial attention on pain perception. 16 healthy
participants (mean age 22) received either high or low intensity painful electrical stimulation …