Perceptual inference in chronic pain: an investigation into the economy of action hypothesis
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Date
2016
Authors
Tabor, A.
O'Daly, O.
Gregory, R.W.
Jacobs, C.
Travers, W.
Thacker, M.A.
Moseley, G.L.
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Journal article
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Clinical Journal of Pain, 2016; 32(7):588-593
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Abstract
Objective: The experience of chronic pain critically alters one’s ability to interact with theirenvironment. One fundamental issue that has received little attention however,is whether chronic pain disrupts how one perceives their environment in thefirst place. The Economy of Action hypothesis purports that the environment isspatially scaled according to the ability of the observer. Under this hypothesis ithas been proposed that the perception of the world is different between thosewith and without chronic pain. Such a possibility has profound implications forthe investigation and treatment of pain. The present investigation looked to testthe application of this hypothesis to a heterogeneous chronic pain population
Methods: Chronic pain sufferers (36; 27F) and matched pain-free controls were recruited.Each participant was required to judge the distance to a series of target cones, towhich they were to subsequently walk. In addition, at each distance, participantsused numerical rating scales to indicate their perceived effort and perceived painassociated with the distance presented
Results: Our findings do not support the Economy of Action hypothesis: there were nosignificant differences in distance estimates between the chronic pain group andpain-free controls (F(1,60)=0.927; p=0.340). In addition, we found no predictiverelationship in the chronic pain group between anticipated pain and estimateddistance (F(1,154)=0.122, p=0.727), nor anticipated effort =1.171, p= 0.281) andestimated distance (F(1,154)=1.171, p= 0.281).
Discussion: The application of the Economy of Action hypothesis and the notion of spatialperceptual scaling as a means to assess and treat the experience of chronic painare unfounded.
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Copyright 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health
Access Condition Notes: Postprint available after 1 July 2017