Attentional interference, but no attentional bias, by tonic itch and pain stimulation

Introduction: Attentional processes are involved in the experience of itch and pain. They interrupt task performance (ie, attentional interference) or bias allocation attention toward somatosensory stimulation, that is, (AB). Research on AB pain is mostly focused stimuli with short durations; hampering generalization to tonic sensations. Evidence for lacking so far. This study investigated interference by—and toward—experimentally induced Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers performed a (SAT), measured during (35 s duration) pain, vibrotactile stimuli. In addition, dot-probe visual representations Flanker was used assess inhibition, self-reported characteristics were measured. Results: compared found SAT. Exploration shorter time segments within one stimulus showed slowed responses all three types first 5 seconds stimulation. However, no prolonged following found. There Furthermore, there association between any measures characteristics. Discussion: These findings suggest beginning interfering cognitive performance, but results by equivocal. indication biased allocation. Whether this pattern different patients remains be future.