Abstract
The analgesic effect of social support is proposed as a function of social support modulating perceived threat of painful stimuli. In the current study, we directly examined the social buffering effect in the context of the threat of pain. Eighteen healthy participants were subjected to the threat of pain while they held the hand of a close other, a stranger, or not at all. Neural and autonomic responses were recorded using electroencephalogram and heart rate, respectively. Close other hand-holding reduced pain perception. This was accompanied by decreased heart rate and frontal theta oscillation (4-8 Hz) during the threat phase preceding painful stimulation. Interestingly, decreased heart rate and frontal theta in the close other hand-holding condition were uniquely associated with greater pain reduction during subsequent nociceptive stimulation. Neural changes were source-localized to the insular cortex and the rostral-ventral portions of anterior cingulate cortex, regions involved in the processing of threat and pain. Together, our data build upon work to date linking social support to pain by showing autonomic and neurophysiological changes associated with pain reduction. Perspective: Social support may reduce pain through buffering the autonomic and neurophysiological response to the threatening quality of noxious stimuli. Results implicate that in clinical settings the caregiver could help people with chronic pain reappraise pain and related conditions as less stressful.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 496-505 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Pain |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2018 |
Keywords
- Heart rate
- Pain
- Social support
- Stress
- Theta oscillation
Cite this
}
The Social Regulation of Pain : Autonomic and Neurophysiological Changes Associated With Perceived Threat. / Che, Xianwei; Cash, Robin; Fitzgerald, Paul; Fitzgibbon, Bernadette M.
In: Journal of Pain, Vol. 19, No. 5, 05.2018, p. 496-505.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Social Regulation of Pain
T2 - Autonomic and Neurophysiological Changes Associated With Perceived Threat
AU - Che, Xianwei
AU - Cash, Robin
AU - Fitzgerald, Paul
AU - Fitzgibbon, Bernadette M.
PY - 2018/5
Y1 - 2018/5
N2 - The analgesic effect of social support is proposed as a function of social support modulating perceived threat of painful stimuli. In the current study, we directly examined the social buffering effect in the context of the threat of pain. Eighteen healthy participants were subjected to the threat of pain while they held the hand of a close other, a stranger, or not at all. Neural and autonomic responses were recorded using electroencephalogram and heart rate, respectively. Close other hand-holding reduced pain perception. This was accompanied by decreased heart rate and frontal theta oscillation (4-8 Hz) during the threat phase preceding painful stimulation. Interestingly, decreased heart rate and frontal theta in the close other hand-holding condition were uniquely associated with greater pain reduction during subsequent nociceptive stimulation. Neural changes were source-localized to the insular cortex and the rostral-ventral portions of anterior cingulate cortex, regions involved in the processing of threat and pain. Together, our data build upon work to date linking social support to pain by showing autonomic and neurophysiological changes associated with pain reduction. Perspective: Social support may reduce pain through buffering the autonomic and neurophysiological response to the threatening quality of noxious stimuli. Results implicate that in clinical settings the caregiver could help people with chronic pain reappraise pain and related conditions as less stressful.
AB - The analgesic effect of social support is proposed as a function of social support modulating perceived threat of painful stimuli. In the current study, we directly examined the social buffering effect in the context of the threat of pain. Eighteen healthy participants were subjected to the threat of pain while they held the hand of a close other, a stranger, or not at all. Neural and autonomic responses were recorded using electroencephalogram and heart rate, respectively. Close other hand-holding reduced pain perception. This was accompanied by decreased heart rate and frontal theta oscillation (4-8 Hz) during the threat phase preceding painful stimulation. Interestingly, decreased heart rate and frontal theta in the close other hand-holding condition were uniquely associated with greater pain reduction during subsequent nociceptive stimulation. Neural changes were source-localized to the insular cortex and the rostral-ventral portions of anterior cingulate cortex, regions involved in the processing of threat and pain. Together, our data build upon work to date linking social support to pain by showing autonomic and neurophysiological changes associated with pain reduction. Perspective: Social support may reduce pain through buffering the autonomic and neurophysiological response to the threatening quality of noxious stimuli. Results implicate that in clinical settings the caregiver could help people with chronic pain reappraise pain and related conditions as less stressful.
KW - Heart rate
KW - Pain
KW - Social support
KW - Stress
KW - Theta oscillation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041285482&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.12.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.12.007
M3 - Article
VL - 19
SP - 496
EP - 505
JO - Journal of Pain
JF - Journal of Pain
SN - 1526-5900
IS - 5
ER -