European journal of pain : EJP
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Attentional biases for pain-related information have been frequently reported in individuals with chronic pain. Recording of participants' eye movements provides a continuous measure of attention, although to date this methodology has received little use in research exploring attentional biases in chronic pain. The aim of the current investigation was to explore the specificity of attentional orienting bias using a novel visual search task while recording participant eye movement behaviours. This also allowed for the investigation of whether attentional biases for pain-related information exist in the presence of multiple stimuli competing for attention. ⋯ Individuals with chronic headache show facilitated initial orienting towards pain expressions specifically when used as targets in a visual search task. This study adds to a growing body of research supporting the presence of pain-related attentional biases in chronic pain as assessed via different experimental paradigms, and shows biases to exist when multiple stimuli competing for attention are presented simultaneously.
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Committed action is a relatively understudied facet of the psychological flexibility model but a potentially important process of overt behaviour in relation to chronic pain. In this study, we take a previously developed measure of committed action, the Committed Action Questionnaire (CAQ), and validate a shorter version. ⋯ The CAQ-8 appears equally adequate as the CAQ as a measure of committed action. Its development ought to facilitate further study of this process of engagement in activity and of the wider psychological flexibility model in relation to chronic pain.
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Synovial fluid in inflamed joint shows a drop in pH, which activates proton-gated ion channels in nociceptors. No studies have ever tried to develop and characterize acid-induced joint pain. ⋯ We developed and characterized a model of acid-induced long-lasting bilateral joint pain. Peripheral ASIC3 and spinal p-CREB played important roles for the development of hyperalgesia. This animal model gives insights into the mechanisms of joint pain, which is helpful in developing better pain treatments.
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Age-related alterations in both pain perception and inhibitory functions have been observed, but the relationship between the two in older adults remains unclear. Previous studies were mainly based on behavioural measures which do not allow assessment of underlying neural mechanisms. ⋯ In the healthy elderly, the neuronal circuits of cognitive inhibition and conscious pain control may overlap, and brain regions engaged in response inhibition may be more involved in behavioural response of pain.