pain experience

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological diseases. The disease is clinically defined by the involvement of different parts of the central nervous system (CNS) at various times. Its peak incidence is between the ages of 20 and 40. The experience of pain plays an important role in the mental health and quality of life of MS patients. Research also shows that if MS patients have high levels of self-compassion, they can more easily manage negative situations. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training programs on the perception of pain experience and self-compassion in MS patients. Method: >The current research is an experiment with available sampling methods. The sample includes 40 MS patients, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. Mindfulness training programs (Kabat—Zinn), the McGill Pain Experience Scale (MPQ), and the NF Self-Compassion Questionnaire (SCS-LF) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed through the statistical test of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: >The results showed that the average difference between the groups regarding pain experience (F=49.270) and self-compassion (F=51.249) is significant. Therefore, it can be said that increasing self-compassion leads to higher efficiency in facing stressful situations. Conclusion >: Enhancing cognitive processes, particularly self-compassion, through mindfulness training can significantly influence individuals’ perception of pain. It is recommended that families receive appropriate training to develop strategies aimed at strengthening mindfulness skills in individuals.  

Most studies on placebo mechanisms rely on Expectancy Theory, which suggests that conceptual expectations can bring about physiological change. However, the exact processes underlying this effect remain unclear. Perceptual Symbol Systems (PSS) Theory, grounded in Embodied Cognition Theory, offers a more specific explanation: mental representations grounded in sensory-motor systems may directly evoke bodily responses. This study tested whether embodied primes, based on PSS Theory, elicit stronger placebo responses than traditional expectancy-based suggestions. Using a within-subjects design, 71 university students underwent a cold pressure task under three conditions: (1) verbal suggestion of an analgesic cream, (2) visual priming with a photo of a person looking upward, and (3) combined visual-motor priming, where participants also looked upward themselves. The placebo response was measured by changes in pain intensity and heart rate. Results showed that both embodied conditions (visual and visual-motor priming) produced stronger placebo responses than the verbal suggestion condition, as indicated by lower pain intensity and reduced heart rate (F(2,140)=5.83; p<.01). However, the difference between the two embodied conditions was not statistically significant in terms of pain ratings. Notably, visual-motor priming led to a greater reduction in heart rate than visual priming alone (F(6,330)=1.99; p=.06), suggesting a subtle additive effect of motor engagement. These findings support the role of unconscious embodied processes—specifically, perceptual and motor representations—in modulating placebo responses. They offer a promising direction for understanding how non-verbal bodily cues may influence the complex perception of pain.