Pain Reactivity and Kinesthetic Aftereffect

Abstract

The previously reported relationship between reaction to suprathreshold pain and kinesthetic aftereffect was substantiated, the pain being induced by exposure of the hand to cold air. Three groups ( nt = 9) constructed to represent three levels of reported pain reactivity differed in extent of kinesthetic aftereffect as measured by displacement of post-inspection judgments from control PSE. Those of highest reported pain reactivity showed the least displacement. The groups did not differ in recovery from aftereffect or in ascending-descending trial difference, postulated in the literature as a measure of rapid satiation on the variable stimulus. An attempt was made to resolve theoretical differences by using a vector model for displacement, and this model was applied, in a general sense, to prior studies.