Virtual reality to understand pain-associated approach behaviour: a proof-of-concept study.

ABSTRACT: Pain-associated approach and avoidance behaviours are critically involved in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Empirical research suggests a key role of operant learning mechanisms, and first experimental paradigms were developed for their investigation within a controlled laboratory setting. We introduce a new Virtual Reality paradigm to the study of pain-related behaviour and investigate pain experiences on multiple dimensions. The paradigm evaluates the effects of three-tiered heat-pain stimuli applied contingent versus non-contingent with three types of arm movements in naturalistic virtual sceneries. Behaviour, self-reported pain-related fear, pain expectancy and electrodermal activity were assessed in 42 healthy participants during an acquisition phase (contingent move

SUBMITTER: Hilger K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10447531 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature