International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
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Int J Psychophysiol · Jun 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialInvestigating the affective component of pain: no startle modulation by tonic heat pain in startle responsive individuals.
Experimental tonic pain has been assumed to equal clinical pain by triggering sizeable affective responses. A psycho-physiological indicator of defensive affective-motivational responses is the startle reflex. However, earlier studies have not provided unequivocal evidence for a potentiation of the startle reflex during tonic contact heat pain. ⋯ Our findings indicate that tonic heat pain does not trigger defensive affective-motivational responses as measured by the startle reflex when it is applied in a predictable and thus non-threatening fashion. Future research should investigate the effects of manipulations of threat on startle responses to painful stimulation.