Attentional control and the competition between nonpain goals and the threat of pain

Background
Fully understanding attention to pain requires taking into account the motivational context. Both pain‐ and (nonpain) goal‐related information attracts attention. An intriguing question is which attentional bias prevails when pain‐ and goal‐related information co‐occurs? Reduced attentional bias towards pain‐ and goal‐related information was predicted when the other competing information was presented simultaneously. Moreover, trait attentional control was predicted to be associated with stronger attentional bias towards goal‐related information particularly in the presence of pain‐related information.

Methods
Attentional competition between pain‐ and (nonpain) goal‐related information was measured in ninety participants using a dot‐probe task presenting two stimuli (pain‐related, goal‐related or neutral) simultaneously. Reaction time was the dependent variable. Dot‐probe trials alternated with goal trials to induce a temporary goal. Trait attentional control was measured with the attentional control scale.

Results
For pain‐related neutral stimulus pairs, participants responded fastest when probes appeared on the same, compared to the opposite, location as the pain‐related stimulus. For pain‐goal‐related stimulus pairs, responses were fastest when probes appeared on the same, compared to the opposite, location as the goal‐related stimulus. Higher trait attentional control was associated with faster responding when probes appeared on the same, compared to the opposite, location as the goal‐related stimulus. Unpredicted, this effect was irrespective of the co‐occurring stimulus (neutral vs. pain‐related).

Conclusions
The findings suggest that the unintentional allocation of attention towards events related to a temporary (nonpain) goal prevails over attentional bias to events predicting pain. Trait attentional control predicts stronger attentional allocation towards events related to a temporary goal.

Significance
These findings indicate that treatment interventions facilitating goal pursuit in patients with chronic pain are beneficial in reducing attentional biases towards pain‐related events.