Age differences in perceived locus of control over pain
Wed-A7-Talk VI-02
Presented by: Joukje Oosterman
Aging is characterized by a decline in the top-down modulation of pain. These top-down modulatory processes play a major role in daily life situations where painful events occur unexpectedly and beyond a person’s control. To date, however, it is unclear how a perceived lack of control influences the perception of pain and the underlying modulatory brain regions in aging.
In the present study, we manipulated the perceived locus of control over a low and a high pain stimulus in a group of younger (n=16, age=23.1) and older (n=20, age=63.6) participants. Each participant's personalized level of low and high pain experience was determined using electric shocks. Next, participants were informed that they would receive either their personalized low or high painful stimulus (high control), or a low or high level of stimulation generated by the computer (low control). Unknown to them, the computer-generated intensities were the same as the personalized low and high levels. We recorded participants’ experienced level of control over the self versus the computer-generated shocks, and after each shock participants rated their level of pain. Electroencephalography (EEG) was also recorded. Preliminary analyses indicate that, in both age groups, participants reported higher levels of control over their personalized compared to the computer-generated electric shocks. Moreover, in both age groups a similar effect was found where subjective pain ratings were lower following computer-generated pain. Further analysis will focus on the electrophysiological correlates of the anticipatory and shock phase, comparing them between self and computer-controlled trials for both age groups.
In the present study, we manipulated the perceived locus of control over a low and a high pain stimulus in a group of younger (n=16, age=23.1) and older (n=20, age=63.6) participants. Each participant's personalized level of low and high pain experience was determined using electric shocks. Next, participants were informed that they would receive either their personalized low or high painful stimulus (high control), or a low or high level of stimulation generated by the computer (low control). Unknown to them, the computer-generated intensities were the same as the personalized low and high levels. We recorded participants’ experienced level of control over the self versus the computer-generated shocks, and after each shock participants rated their level of pain. Electroencephalography (EEG) was also recorded. Preliminary analyses indicate that, in both age groups, participants reported higher levels of control over their personalized compared to the computer-generated electric shocks. Moreover, in both age groups a similar effect was found where subjective pain ratings were lower following computer-generated pain. Further analysis will focus on the electrophysiological correlates of the anticipatory and shock phase, comparing them between self and computer-controlled trials for both age groups.
Keywords: pain control, aging, expectation, pain experience, top-down modulation, EEG