Trial Outcomes & Findings for Effects of Expectations on Negative Affect, Perceived Cognitive Effort, and Pain (NCT NCT05425563)

NCT ID: NCT05425563

Last Updated: 2023-11-30

Results Overview

The outcome measure is the "subjective outcome rating" for perceived pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects the average difference in perceived pain as a function of high and low cue exposure. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened pain perception.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

133 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: perceived pain as a function of high low cue exposure.

Results posted on

2023-11-30

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Cue-established Expectations
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Overall Study
STARTED
133
Overall Study
COMPLETED
116
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
17

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Cue-established Expectations
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
17

Baseline Characteristics

Effects of Expectations on Negative Affect, Perceived Cognitive Effort, and Pain

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Cue-established Expectations
n=116 Participants
Prior to experiencing the stimuli from three tasks (somatic pain/cognitive effort/vicarious pain), the participant is presented with an expectancy cue. The cue depicts 10 data points on a semi-circular scale (0-180 degrees) with categorical labels ranging from "no effort" to "strongest effort of any kind." Subsequently, participants report expectation ratings and outcome ratings. Pain Expectancy Cues: Participants are presented with a social cue that represents how previous participants responded to the upcoming somatic pain stimulus. In actuality, the cue is a social placebo, constructed by the experimenters and varying in intensity. Vicarious Pain Expectancy Cues: Participants are presented with a social cue that represents how previous participants responded to the upcoming vicarious pain stimulus. In actuality, the cue is a social placebo, constructed by the experimenters and varying in intensity. Cognitive Effort Expectancy Cues: Participants are presented with a social cue that represents how previous participants responded to the upcoming cognitive effort stimulus. In actuality, the cue is a social placebo, constructed by the experimenters and varying in intensity.
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
116 Participants
n=93 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=93 Participants
Age, Continuous
24.72 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.52 • n=93 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex/Gender · Male
45 Participants
n=93 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex/Gender · Female
69 Participants
n=93 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex/Gender · Other
2 Participants
n=93 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
17 Participants
n=93 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
97 Participants
n=93 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
15 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
86 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
7 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants
n=93 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
116 participants
n=93 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: perceived pain as a function of high low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the "subjective outcome rating" for perceived pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects the average difference in perceived pain as a function of high and low cue exposure. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened pain perception.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Outcome Ratings of Acute Thermal Pain Following High Compared to Low Cues
8.20 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.89

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: perceived vicarious pain as a function of high low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the "subjective outcome rating" for perceived vicarious pain. In each session, participants undergo vicarious pain tasks, watching multiple videos of patients in pain. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived vicarious pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate that participants perceived greater pain for the patient in video. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average outcome rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects the average difference in perceived vicarious pain as a function of high and low cue exposure. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened perception of vicarious pain.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Outcome Ratings of Vicarious Pain Following High Compared to Low Cues
7.72 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.66

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: perceived cognitive effort as a function of high low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the "subjective outcome rating" for cognitive effort. In each session, participants undergo cognitive effort task where images of mentally rotated figures are presented. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived cognitive effort on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived of cognitive effort. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average outcome rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects the average difference in perceived cognitive effort as a function of high and low cue exposure. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened perception of cognitive effort..

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Ratings of Cognitive Effort Following High Compared to Low Cues
8.02 units on a scale
Standard Error 0.70

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of high cue exposure.

This outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "subjective outcome rating" for perceived pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average subjective outcome rating, post-high cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened pain perception.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Outcome Ratings of Acute Thermal Pain Following High Cues
70.22 units on a scale
Standard Error 2.85

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of low cue exposure.

This outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "subjective outcome rating" for perceived pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average subjective outcome rating post-low cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened pain perception.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Outcome Ratings of Acute Thermal Pain Following Low Cues
61.69 units on a scale
Standard Error 2.86

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of high cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "subjective outcome rating" for perceived vicarious pain. In each session, participants undergo vicarious pain tasks, watching multiple videos of patients in pain. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived vicarious pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate that participants perceived greater pain for the patient in video. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average outcome rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average subjective outcome rating post high cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened perception of vicarious pain.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Outcome Ratings of Vicarious Pain Following High Cues
30.66 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.21

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "subjective outcome rating" for perceived vicarious pain. In each session, participants undergo vicarious pain tasks, watching multiple videos of patients in pain. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived vicarious pain on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate that participants perceived greater pain for the patient in video. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average outcome rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average subjective outcome rating post low cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened perception of vicarious pain.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Outcome Ratings of Vicarious Pain Following Low Cues
22.78 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.04

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of high cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "subjective outcome rating" for cognitive effort. In each session, participants undergo cognitive effort task where images of mentally rotated figures are presented. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived cognitive effort on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived of cognitive effort. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average outcome rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average subjective outcome rating post high cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened perception of cognitive effort.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Ratings of Cognitive Effort Following High Cues
32.35 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.38

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "subjective outcome rating" for cognitive effort. In each session, participants undergo cognitive effort task where images of mentally rotated figures are presented. After each stimulus, participants rate their perceived cognitive effort on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater perceived of cognitive effort. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average outcome rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average subjective outcome rating post low cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened perception of cognitive effort.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Subjective Ratings of Cognitive Effort Following Low Cues
24.31 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.19

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: expectations of pain as a function of high low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the "expectation rating" for upcoming pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. Before each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their pain expectation on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater pain expectations. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects the variance in pain expectations between cues. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for thermal pain intensity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Acute Thermal Pain Following High Compared to Low Cues
35.06 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.99

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: expectations of vicarious pain as a function of high low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the "expectation rating" for upcoming vicarious pain. In each session, participants undergo vicarious pain tasks, watching multiple videos of patients in pain. Prior to each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their expectation of perceived vicarious pain for an upcoming stimulus experience on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles suggest participants anticipate viewing videos of patients experiencing greater pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average expectation rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects difference in vicarious pain expectations between cues. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for vicarious pain intensity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Vicarious Pain Following High Compared to Low Cues
33.02 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.52

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected post-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: expectations of cognitive effort as a function of high low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the "expectation rating" for upcoming cognitive effort. In each session, participants undergo cognitive effort tasks where images of mentally rotated figures are presented. Before each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their expectations on cognitive effort on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater expectations of cognitive effort. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average expectation rating after high cue and after low cue. The final outcome is the difference between these averages, forming a contrast score that reflects the difference in cognitive effort expectations between cues. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations of cognitive effort.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Cognitive Effort Following High Compared to Low Cues
30.76 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.53

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected pre-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: expectations of pain as a function of high cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "expectation rating" for upcoming pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. Before each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their pain expectation on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater pain expectations. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average expectation rating, post-high cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for thermal pain intensity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectations Ratings of Acute Thermal Pain Following High Cues
79.46 units on a scale
Standard Error 2.86

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected pre-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, and contrasted to a single outcome measure: expectations of pain as a function of low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "expectation rating" for upcoming pain. In each session, participants undergo pain tasks with multiple thermal stimuli. Before each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their pain expectation on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater pain expectations. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average expectation rating, post-low cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for thermal pain intensity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectations Ratings of Acute Thermal Pain Following Low Cues
44.65 units on a scale
Standard Error 3.02

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected pre-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting perceived vicarious pain as a function of high cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "expectation rating" for upcoming vicarious pain. In each session, participants undergo vicarious pain tasks, watching multiple videos of patients in pain. Prior to each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their expectation of perceived vicarious pain for an upcoming stimulus experience on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles suggest participants anticipate viewing videos of patients experiencing greater pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average expectation rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average expectation rating, post-high cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for vicarious pain intensity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Vicarious Pain Following High Cues
48.21 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.56

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected pre-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting perceived vicarious pain as a function of low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "expectation rating" for upcoming vicarious pain. In each session, participants undergo vicarious pain tasks, watching multiple videos of patients in pain. Prior to each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their expectation of perceived vicarious pain for an upcoming stimulus experience on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles suggest participants anticipate viewing videos of patients experiencing greater pain. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average expectation rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average expectation rating, post-low cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for vicarious pain intensity.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Vicarious Pain Following Low Cues
14.96 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.01

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected pre-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of high cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "expectation rating" for upcoming cognitive effort. In each session, participants undergo cognitive effort tasks where images of mentally rotated figures are presented. Before each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their expectations on cognitive effort on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater expectations of cognitive effort. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average expectation rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average expectation rating, post-high cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for cognitive effort.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Cognitive Effort Following High Cues
49.39 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.74

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Within trials, outcome ratings are collected pre-stimulus (4s window); Trials are collected across 3 sessions. Ratings are then averaged, reflecting: perceived pain as a function of low cue exposure.

The outcome measure is the least metabolized data of "expectation rating" for upcoming cognitive effort. In each session, participants undergo cognitive effort tasks where images of mentally rotated figures are presented. Before each stimulus, participants see a high or low cue and rate their expectations on cognitive effort on a semi-circular scale (0-180°). Higher angles indicate greater expectations of cognitive effort. The "Outcome Measure Calculation": Ratings are grouped by cue type: High or Low. Data points in each group are averaged across sessions, yielding two measures: average expectation rating after high cue and after low cue. Reported here is the average expectation rating, post-low cue. * Scale: 0-180° * Min value: 0 * Max value: 180 * Higher scores indicate heightened expectations for cognitive effort.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Pain Task; Cue-modulated Stimulus Intensity
n=116 Participants
Participants view a cue that informs them of an upcoming stimulus intensity. The purpose is to identify whether different cue levels modulate stimulus experience across somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort domains.
Behavioral: Within Participant Expectation Ratings of Cognitive Effort Following Low Cues
18.60 units on a scale
Standard Error 1.21

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Measured continuously during each task, concurrent with stimulus delivery. Each task is distributed across 3 sessions. Within each task, we plan to average skin conductance rate across sessions.

Each session of the experiment includes somatic pain, vicarious pain, cognitive effort tasks, in which multiple stimuli are delivered. Skin conductance response will be measured continuously, using a physiological data acquisition device, "Biopac MP150". The investigators will compare the skin conductance rate in response to stimuli delivery as a function high vs. low cue presentation.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Measured continuously during each task, concurrent with stimulus delivery. Each task is distributed across 3 sessions. Within each task, we plan to average skin conductance rate across sessions.

Each session of the experiment includes somatic pain, vicarious pain, cognitive effort tasks, in which multiple stimuli are delivered. Skin conductance rate will be measured continuously, using a physiological data acquisition device, "Biopac MP150". The investigators will compare the skin conductance rate in response to stimuli delivery as a function high vs. low cue presentation.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Measured continuously during stimulus delivery, 1 hour of functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Each scan is conducted across 3 sessions.

After each stimulus delivery, participants are prompted to indicate outcome ratings, i.e. the intensity of their stimulus experience. Ratings are recorded on a semi-circular scale (0-180 degrees), with categorical labels indicated on the scale (e.g. "no sensation" to "strongest sensation of any kind"). The investigators will analyze stimulus brain signal as a function of high vs. med vs. low stimulus intensity. We plan to construct contrasts of stimulus brain maps based on stimulus intensity of high vs. med vs. low.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Measured continuously during stimulus delivery, 1 hour of functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Each scan is conducted across 3 sessions.

Investigator will model the brain event of each stimulus delivery event. From this, investigator will construct contrasts between stimulus brain maps as a function of high vs. low cue. Within each task of somatic pain, vicarious pain, and cognitive effort, we plan to both 1) average brain signals and 3) also isolate each event for further analyses.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Cue-established Expectations

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Tor Wager, professor

Dartmouth College

Phone: 603-646-2196

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place