Perceptual Distortions in Acute Neck Pain

Perceptual Distortions in Acute Neck Pain

Research has shown that chronic pain is related to variety of perceptual distortions. Little is known on how acute pain experience influences perception, especially precision of touch. This project is aiming to test the hypothesis of pain as a process of biological value leading to improvement in tactile acuity.

This project has following goals:

1. To test the hypothesis of pain as a process of biological value leading to improvement in tactile acuity
2. To investigate intra-rater reliability of tests measuring perceptual distortions in pain
3. To investigate validity of novel tests measuring perceptual distortions in pain
4. To explore the influence of acute neck pain on left/right recognition task
5. To explore the effect of acute neck pain on body perception

Inclusion Criteria:

• Only participants without tactile dysfunction will be included.
• Participants reporting availability during the days in which the research will be performed.

Exclusion Criteria:

• current pain experience
• episodes of neck
• thoracic or lumbar pain lasting more than 24 hours within previous month
• history of chronic pain, i.e. pain lasting more than three-month period
• comorbidities affecting nervous system
• cardio-vascular diseases
• psychiatric illnesses
• any disease requiring systematic drug consumption
• diagnosed scoliosis.