Cognitive performance in pain is predicted by effort, not goal desire.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pain's disruptive effects on cognition are well documented. The seminal goal-pursuit account of pain suggests that cognitive disruption is less likely if participants are motivated to attended to a focal goal and not a pain goal.

Objectives

Existing theory is unclear about the conceptualisation and operationalisation of 'focal goal'. This study aims to clarify how goals should be conceptualised and further seeks to test the theory of the goal-pursuit account.

Methods

In a pre-registered laboratory experiment, 56 participants completed an arithmetic task in high-reward/low-reward and pain/control conditions. Pain was induced via cold-water immersion.

Results

High levels of reported effort exertion predicted cognitive-task performance, whereas desire f

SUBMITTER: Pickering J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8568120 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature