Emotional priming effects on secondary hyperalgesia development: A multimodal psychophysiological approach

Pain is a complex and individualized experience that encompasses sensory, emotional, and motivational components (Gilam et al., 2020). Emotional states seem to have a critical role in shaping the pain experience. Negative mood states, such as sadness and anger, are associated with heightened pain sensitivity and pain-related suffering, while positive emotions can buffer pain perception and reduce pain unpleasantness (Lang-Illievichet al., 2024; Villemure & Bushnell, 2009). Secondary hyperalgesia (SH) occurs after tissue injury and is characterized by increased sensitivity to mechanical stimulation in the undamaged area surrounding the damaged tissue, driven by central sensitization mechanisms (Iannetti et al., 2013). In this study we aim to investigate the impact of emotional modulation on SH and its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms at both cortical and spinal levels. Participants will complete two counterbalanced sessions, each beginning with a mood induction procedure (MIP) designed to elicit either joy or sadness, followed by the SH paradigm. The experimental tasks will include electroencephalography, electrocardiography and high-density electrospinography recordings.