Effects of Acute Pain on Cognitive Performance in Young Adults

Abbreviations: HR= heart rate, bpm= beats per minute; BP= blood pressure; ADD= attention deficit disorder; ADHD= attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; MoCA= Montreal Cognitive Assessment; GAD-7= Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale; PHQ-2, PHQ-9= Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and -9.

Inclusion criteria

• 18-35 years old
• Self-identifying as generally medically healthy
• Able to read, write and speak English
• Able to provide informed consent
• Willing to undergo the experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation, if selected

Exclusion criteria

• Resting HR < 50 or > 100 bpm
• Resting BP < 90/60 or > 140/95 mmHg
• Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including ADD/ADHD, severe anxiety, severe depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc.
• Score on the MoCA <23
• Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10
• Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10
• Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis
• Any implanted electronic medical devices (i.e., cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, spinal cord neurostimulators)
• Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus
• History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for > 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or > 2 concussions over the lifespan
• Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or > 1 fall in the last 12 months
• Taking 4 or more medications
• Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.)
• Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body
• Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers
• Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
• Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat
• Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
• Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years