Pain Perception

Paper Summary:

The paper studies attention redirection as it applies to altering both physical and psychological pain reactions. The paper focuses on two specific types of research, that which develops attention redirection and then tests the biological response to pain, as well as studies that attempt to explore psychological pain reaction. The paper shows how both types of research indicate strong support for highly cognitive attentional redirection effecting the physical and/or psychological affect of pain perception. The paper therefore concludes that the mind-body connection is an essential element with regard to pain perception, in both a psychological and physical sense.

Outline:
Introduction
Pain Perception and Attention
Examples of some Alternative Pain Treatments
Types of Research
Pain Perception and Attention Physical Cue Research
Psychological Pain Reaction with Attention Redirection or Cognitive Assessment
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Pain is one of the most studied phenomena in research circles, psychological, sociological and medical alike. Each discipline has demonstrated an intense desire to understand pain as a way of treating it by both secondary and primary means, as it is one of the most common human conditions individuals seek help for and live with. Pain perception and attention is a particularly interesting area of psychological inquiry, as a result of the fact that the phenomena of reduced attention to pain stimulus may help reduce psychological and physical symptomology of pain and allow some to more easily cope with pain in an acute and chronic state. It is commonly understood that pain is perceived differently, and therefore responded to differently as a result of different attention processes."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blanc, A., Lauwers, V., Telmon, N., & Rouge, D. (2001). The Effect of Incarceration on Prisoners' Perception of Their Health. [Electronic Version] Journal of Community Health, 26(5), 367.
• Craig, J. C., & Rollman, G. B. (1999). Somesthesis. [Electronic Version] Annual Review of Psychology 305.
• Hauck, M., Lorenz, J., & Engel, A. (2007, August). Attention to painful stimulation enhances y-band activity and synchronization in human sensorimotor cortex.[Electronic version] Journal of Neuroscience, 27(35), 9270-9277.
• Kodish, B. I. (2001). The Pain in Sprain . [Electronic Version] ETC.: A Review of General Semantics, 58(2), 138.
• Kodish, B. I. (2004). Body Awareness in Theory and Practice. [Electronic Version] ETC.: A Review of General Semantics, 61(3), 353.

More papers on Pain Perception:

• Research Paper # 116882 : "Data Collection: Pain Management"
• Research Proposal # 129208 : "Gender Differences in the Perception of Pain"
• Analytical Essay # 60518 : "Pain Management"

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