Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer in individuals with chronic pain

Angelos Miltiadis Krypotos*, Rachel Sjouwerman, Mathijs Teppers, Johan W.S. Vlaeyen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Avoidance of pain has been argued to be key factor leading pain events to chronic disability. In this respect, research has focused on investigating the working mechanisms of avoidance's acquisition. Avoidance of painful stimuli has been traditionally studied using a combination of Pavlovian and Instrumental procedures. However, such approach seems to go against real-life scenarios where avoidance is commonly acquired more readily. Using a novel pain avoidance paradigm, we tested whether pain avoidance can be installed in absence of associations between a cue and pain omission, and whether such avoidance differs between pain patients and healthy controls. Participants first learned to avoid painful stimuli by pressing a grip bar. Then, they passively encountered pairings of one geometrical shape with pain and of another geometrical shape without pain. Lastly, participants encountered the geometrical shapes while being able to use the grip bar. Results showed that participants pressed the bar more vigorously when encountering the previously pain-related shape compared to the pain-unrelated shape. This effect did not seem to differ between pain patients and healthy control. Our study could inspire a new way in measuring avoidance in pain, possibly paving the way to better understanding how avoidance is installed in chronic pain.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104491
Number of pages7
JournalBehaviour Research and Therapy
Volume176
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

Funding

Angelos-Miltiadis Krypotos was supported by an FWO grant (Reg. #12x5320N ) and is now supported by an NWO grant (Reg. #401.18.056 ) grant. Johan W.S. Vlaeyen is supported by the ‘Asthenes’ long-term structural funding–Methusalem grant by the Flemish Government , Belgium ( METH/15/011 ) and the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI: #2018–00047 ). Rachel Sjouwerman is supported by an NWO Open Competition grant (nr. 406.20.GO.032 ) awarded to Johan W.S. Vlaeyen. This study was supported by an infrastructure grant from the FWO and the Research Fund KU Leuven, Belgium ( AKUL/19/06 ; I011320N ).

FundersFunder number
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek401.18.056
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Vlaamse regeringMETH/15/011
Vlaamse regering
Institut National d'assurance Maladie-Invalidité2018–00047, 406.20, I011320N, AKUL/19/06
Institut National d'assurance Maladie-Invalidité

    Keywords

    • Conditioning
    • Instrumental learning
    • Pain
    • Pavlovian learning
    • Therapy

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