scholarly journals Emotional arousal when watching drama increases pain threshold and social bonding

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 160288 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. M. Dunbar ◽  
Ben Teasdale ◽  
Jackie Thompson ◽  
Felix Budelmann ◽  
Sophie Duncan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Emotional Arousal ◽  
Social Bonding ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Anthropoid Primate

Fiction, whether in the form of storytelling or plays, has a particular attraction for us: we repeatedly return to it and are willing to invest money and time in doing so. Why this is so is an evolutionary enigma that has been surprisingly underexplored. We hypothesize that emotionally arousing drama, in particular, triggers the same neurobiological mechanism (the endorphin system, reflected in increased pain thresholds) that underpins anthropoid primate and human social bonding. We show that, compared to subjects who watch an emotionally neutral film, subjects who watch an emotionally arousing film have increased pain thresholds and an increased sense of group bonding.

scholarly journals Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1731) ◽  
pp. 1161-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. I. M. Dunbar ◽  
Rebecca Baron ◽  
Anna Frangou ◽  
Eiluned Pearce ◽  
Edwin J. C. van Leeuwen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Affect ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Social Bonding ◽  
Verbal Communication ◽  
Pain Tolerance ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Stage Performances ◽  
Proximate Explanation

Although laughter forms an important part of human non-verbal communication, it has received rather less attention than it deserves in both the experimental and the observational literatures. Relaxed social (Duchenne) laughter is associated with feelings of wellbeing and heightened affect, a proximate explanation for which might be the release of endorphins. We tested this hypothesis in a series of six experimental studies in both the laboratory (watching videos) and naturalistic contexts (watching stage performances), using change in pain threshold as an assay for endorphin release. The results show that pain thresholds are significantly higher after laughter than in the control condition. This pain-tolerance effect is due to laughter itself and not simply due to a change in positive affect. We suggest that laughter, through an endorphin-mediated opiate effect, may play a crucial role in social bonding.

An Examination by Forearm EMG on Pain Reaction Time to Radiant Heat

1993 ◽  
Vol 76 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1139-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiteru Hatayama ◽  
Kayoko Shimizu
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Time Delay ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Motor Response ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Pain Sensation ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pain Reaction

The present study was done to estimate rise in skin temperature during a pain reaction time (pain RT) as a means of investigating why a pricking pain threshold, produced by thermal stimulation using time method, often increases during repeated measurements. The pain RT, or the time-delay between occurrence of pain sensation and a subsequent motor response, was measured by making EMG recording on a forearm. The radiant heat stimuli were three, 200, 300, and 350 mcal/sec./cm2, each of which was given through a round radiation window of an algesiometer head. Analysis showed that the pain RTs would be too short to explain higher pain thresholds often found using the time method.

Evidence for diminished visceral pain with aging: studies using graded intraesophageal balloon distension

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (1) ◽  
pp. G1-G3 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lasch ◽  
D. O. Castell ◽  
J. A. Castell
Keyword(s):  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Visceral Pain ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Balloon Distension ◽  
Intraesophageal Balloon Distension

Graded intraesophageal balloon distension (IEBD) has been utilized in the past to evaluate esophageal pain thresholds. With use of a technique that we have found to provide reproducible results for pain thresholds, two groups of normal individuals without esophageal symptoms or diabetes were studied. Group 1 included 10 "young" (age < 65 yr) individuals (mean age 27 yr, range 18-57 yr). Group 2 included 17 individuals age 65 yr or greater (mean age 72.5 yr, range 65-87 yr). Catheters with latex balloons (Wilson-Cook) were used in all 27 subjects with the balloon located 10 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Sequential inflations of 2-ml increments were performed until a total volume of 2 ml above the point of pain or to a maximum of 30 ml was reached. A series of two sequential inflations were performed on each subject on the day of the testing, and the mean value was taken to indicate pain threshold volumes for all 27 subjects. In the group of elderly volunteers, 5 subjects felt no pain even at the maximum inflatable volume of the balloon (30 ml) and were assigned a maximum threshold value of 30 ml. Mean pain threshold volumes for the young subjects was 17 +/- 0.8 ml of air (+/- SE) and for the elderly subjects was 27 +/- 1.4 ml (P < 0.01 and 95% confidence interval = 7.1-13.3). Our conclusion is that IEBD results in the esophagus indicate an age-related decrease in human visceral pain threshold.

scholarly journals The Effect of Herniarin on Spatial Working Memory, Pain Threshold, and Oxidative Stress in Ischemic Hypoperfusion Model in Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50
Author(s):  
Zahra Nazari Barchestani ◽  
◽  
Maryam Rafieirad ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tail Flick ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Ischemic Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Brain ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Background: Ischemia causes severe neuronal damage and induces oxidative stress, memory impairment, and reduces pain threshold. Herniarin is a powerful antioxidant. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of herniarin on memory, pain, and oxidative stress in an ischemia model in male rats. Materials & Methods: In this study, 50 male rats were divided into 5 groups of control, sham, ischemic, and two other ischemic groups, which received herniarin at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg by gavage for 14 days. Behavioral tests were performed by shuttle box, and Y-maze and pain tests were performed by Tail-Flick test. Then, the rats’ brains were extracted to evaluate lipid peroxidation and measure the levels of thiol and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPX) in the hippocampus and striatum tissues. The results were expressed as Mean±SEM and then analyzed using suitable statistical methods of ANOVA and least significant difference post-hoc test in SPSS V. 20. Results: Herniarin significantly increased the avoidance memory, spatial memory, and pain thresholds of ischemic rats at different concentrations (P<0.001). Besides, the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiol in the ischemic group increased significantly in comparison to the control group (P<0.001). Also, in the ischemic group, GPX (P<0.001) significantly decreased. Decreased MDA (P<0.001) and thiol (P<0.001) and increased GPX levels were observed with herniarin administration (P<0.01). Conclusion: According to this study’s results, herniarin can remove free radicals and oxidant substances from the brain. Thus, it improves memory and pain thresholds in the brain hypoperfusion ischemia model.

Further Study of the Neurohumoral Factor, Endorphin, in the Mechanism of Acupuncture Analgesia

1979 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 143-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel M. P. Yang ◽  
S. H. Kok
Keyword(s):  
Dental Pulp ◽  
Analgesic Effect ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Acupuncture Analgesia ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Femoral Arteries ◽  
Jaw Opening ◽  
Jaw Opening Reflex ◽  
Arteries And Veins

Cross circulation was performed between the femoral arteries and veins of paired rabbits that were entirely conscious. Jaw opening reflex by dental pulp stimulation was used as pain index. When acupuncture was applied to the donor rabbit the pain thresholds of both the donor and recipient were elevated from 30 minutes to one hour after acupuncture stimulation and lasted for another 30 minutes after withdrawal of acupuncture. The analgesic effect in both the donor and recipient was abolished by the pretreatment of naloxone. The increase in the pain threshold of the non-acupunctured recipient was due to an opiate-like, humoral substance generated from the acupuncture donor. The possible role of endorphins in the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia is discussed.

scholarly journals Religious Rituals Increase Social Bonding and Pain Threshold

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Jane Charles ◽  
Valerie van Mulukom ◽  
Miguel Farias ◽  
Jennifer Brown ◽  
Romara Delmonte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Affect ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Social Bonding ◽  
Religious Ritual ◽  
Religious Rituals ◽  
Social Touch ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Brain

The ‘brain-opioid theory of social attachment’ (BOTSA) has been proposed as providing the neurobiological underpinnings of social bonding. Endorphins are activated in the brain by a variety of social activities, including social touch, laughter, singing, dancing and feasting. Several of these seem to be involved in the processes of bonding whole communities by allowing large numbers of individuals to be bonded simultaneously. It has been suggested that religious rituals may also be part of this bonding toolkit. We tested this hypothesis in a series of field studies carried out during religious rituals in the UK and Brazil. We found that taking part in the service increased both pain threshold (a standard proxy for endorphin activation) and positive affect, and that between them these enhanced the sense of bonding to the religious group. The results suggest that one of the key functions of religious ritual may be to increase community bonding.

scholarly journals Pain threshold - measure of pain sensitivity or social behavior?

Psihologija ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koraljka Modic-Stanke ◽  
Dragutin Ivanec
Keyword(s):  
Pain Sensitivity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Factorial Anova ◽  
Lower Status ◽  
Threshold Measure ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Main Effects

The aim was to examine the effect of the experimenter?s social status and its interaction with participant?s gender on pressure pain threshold. Both male and female students participated in the study (N = 96) and were evenly assigned into two groups which differed only in the professional status of the experimenter who was a professor (higher status) in one group and a student (lower status) in the other. The factorial ANOVA revealed statistically significant and large main effects of the experimenter?s status and the participants? gender, indicating higher pain thresholds in male participants and in the higher status experimenter group. Although both males and females had higher pain thresholds when measured by a higher status experimenter, a statistically significant interaction revealed that status affected male participants more so than females. The obtained results are probably due to social behaviour, emphasizing relevance of the experimenter?s and participants? characteristics in pain measurement.

Adaptation of thermal pain in the skin

1962 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leon C. Greene ◽  
James D. Hardy
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Radiation ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Radiation Intensity ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Thermal Pain ◽  
Cutaneous Pain ◽  
The Subject

Cutaneous pain thresholds were determined on blackened skin of foreheads and forearms of human subjects over areas of 16 cm2 by recording skin temperature during exposure to thermal radiation for periods up to 50 min. Intensity of stimulus was controlled by the subject so that threshold pain was maintained throughout the exposure. After the initial period of adjustment by the subject, radiation intensity was generally maintained constant although skin temperature for the pain threshold decreased from 44.9 C to 43.8 C. By using an intensity as low as 22 mcal/cm2/sec, threshold pain was evoked in 29 min at a skin temperature of 42.2 C. In both groups, once pain had been established it did not disappear. It is inferred from these observations that thermal pain does not adapt for near-threshold stimulation in the period between onset of pain at 30 sec and termination of stimulation. Submitted on December 26, 1961

Visuo–tactile stimulation, but not type of movement, modulates pain during the vision of a moving virtual limb

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 449-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calum Gordon ◽  
Alba Barbullushi ◽  
Stefano Tombolini ◽  
Federica Margiotta ◽  
Alessia Ciacci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Tactile Stimulation ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Heat Pain Threshold ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Healthy Participants

Aim: Evidence has revealed a relationship between pain and the observation of limb movement, but it is unknown whether different types of movements have diverse modulating effects. In this immersive virtual reality study, we explored the effect of the vision of different virtual arm movements (arm vs wrist) on heat pain threshold of healthy participants. Patients & methods: 40 healthy participants underwent four conditions in virtual reality, while heat pain thresholds were measured. Visuo–tactile stimulation was used to attempt to modulate the feeling of virtual limb ownership while the participants kept their arms still. Results: Effects on pain threshold were present for type of stimulation but not type of movement. Conclusion: The type of observed movement does not appear to influence pain modulation, at least not during acute pain states.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Fibromyalgia and Pressure Pain Threshold in Patients with Dyspareunia

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Terzi ◽  
Rabia Terzi ◽  
Ahmet Kale
Keyword(s):  
Beck Depression Inventory ◽  
Pain Threshold ◽  
Pressure Pain Threshold ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tender Points ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Pain ◽  
Pressure Pain Thresholds ◽  
Pressure Algometer ◽  
Significant Difference

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the number of tender points, pressure pain threshold and presence of fibromyalgia among women with or without dyspareunia.METHODS: The present cross-sectional study included 40 patients with dyspareunia and 30 healthy controls. The participants were asked if they had engaged in sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks, and dyspareunia was rated from 0 to 3 based on the Marinoff Dyspareunia Scale. A pressure algometer (dolorimeter) was used to measure the pressure pain threshold. Fibromyalgia was diagnosed based on the 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria. The depression status of the participants was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory.RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found with regard to age, body mass index, habits (alcohol use and smoking), educational status and occupational status between the two groups. Total myalgic score, total control score and tender point mean pain threshold were significantly lower in the group with dyspareunia. The number of tender points was significantly higher in patients with dyspareunia. The mean Beck Depression Inventory score was 14.7 ±8.4 in the dyspareunia group compared with 11.2 ±7.1 in the control group. Five (12.5%) of the patients with dyspareunia were diagnosed with fibromyalgia, whereas no patients in the control group were diagnosed with fibromyalgia. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the presence of fibromyalgia.CONCLUSION: The finding of lower pressure pain thresholds and a higher number of tender points among patients with dyspareunia suggests that these patients may have increased generalized pain thresholds. Additional studies involving a larger number of patients are required to investigate the presence of central mechanisms in the pathogenesis of dyspareunia.

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