Impaired pain-related threat and safety learning in patients with chronic back pain.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Pain-related learning mechanisms likely play a key role in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Previous smaller-scale studies have suggested impaired pain-related learning in patients with chronic pain, but results are mixed, and chronic back pain (CBP) particularly has been poorly studied. In a differential conditioning paradigm with painful heat as unconditioned stimuli, we examined pain-related acquisition and extinction learning in 62 patients with CBP and 61 pain-free healthy male and female volunteers using valence and contingency ratings and skin conductance responses. Valence ratings indicate significantly reduced threat and safety learning in patients with CBP, whereas no significant differences were observed in contingency awareness and physiological

SUBMITTER: Schlitt F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9341232 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature