Consumption of Attention versus Affect Elicited by Cognitions in Modifying Acute Pain

Abstract

40 subjects were randomly assigned to conditions of high pleasure, low pleasure, high anger, or low anger in a 2 × 2 (intensity × affect) design. Although subjects used highly intense cognitions more than less intense ones, pleasant cognitions produced higher tolerance for pressure pain. Modification of pain may be mediated by specific affect rather than intensity or consumption of attention.