Background & Aims

Colors are present in everyday life and have been proven to have an effect on pain perception. However, the underlying mechanisms of this effect are not yet known. Previous studies have shown that usually red leads to increased pain experience, while white was lately identified as having a hypoalgesic effect on pain (Wiercioch-Kuzianik & B?bel, 2019, Wiercioch-Kuzianik et al., 2023). This study aimed to investigate the role of expectations in the influence of colors on pain perception.

Methods

Participants were divided into 3 groups: congruent, incongruent, and color-control depending on the direction of expectations elicited in the experiment. Participants in the experimental groups (congruent and incongruent) received information regarding how red and white modulate pain perception. In the congruent group, participants were informed that red can aggravate and white alleviate pain. In the incongruent group, the information was the opposite. Besides the manipulated colors, 7 other hues were also used in the study. Pain was induced using short, electrical pulses at an individually adjusted for each participant intensity. Both pain intensity and pain expectation were measured (VAS ratings) alongside the physiological responses to pain (electrocardiography, ECG and electrodermal activity, EDA).

Results

Participants in the congruent and color-control groups expected significantly higher pain after exposure to red compared to white. However, no significant difference in expectations was observed in the incongruent group. Moreover, red led to higher pain compared to white in the congruent group, while no significant differences in pain were found in the incongruent and color-control groups. Further behavioral data analysis and physiological data analysis will be also presented at a congress.

Conclusions

The study showed that people hold expectations about the effects of colors on pain as observed in the color-control group. Moreover, it is easier to reinforce existing expectations, as demonstrated in the congruent group, than to induce opposite expectations, as seen in the incongruent group.

References

Wiercioch-Kuzianik, K., Br?czyk, J., Bieniek, H., & B?bel, P. (2023). Red induces hyperalgesia and white induces hypoalgesia regardless of pain modality. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 6360.

Presenting Author

Justyna Brączyk

Poster Authors

Karolina Wiercioch-Kuzianik

PhD

Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków

Lead Author

Justyna Br?czyk

Jagiellonian University

Lead Author

Stefanie dr. Meeuwis

Health, Medical, and Neuropsychology unit at Leiden University’s Institute of Psychology

Lead Author

Przemys?aw B?bel

Prof.

Jagiellonian University, Institute of Psychology, Pain Research Group

Lead Author

Topics

  • Mechanisms: Psychosocial and Biopsychosocial