Pain modulation by your partner: An experimental investigation from a social-affective perspective
Fig 1
a. Experimental design. Each picture category was presented three times (block 1–3). In each block, the order of the five picture categories was randomized for every participant. Inter-trial-intervals (ITI) varied between 15 and 35 s. Image codes of the schematically displayed pictures (from left to right): AM10ANS, AM31NES, AM07HAS, instead of the picture of the partner the picture AM02NES is presented, due to picture rights, 7009. b. Trial structure. The figure shows the time course of one experimental trial. (A) Psychophysiological data were recorded continuously and later segmented (BL: baseline, 5s before temperature rising, pic1-pic6: 6 5 s intervals during picture presentation, PVT: picture viewing time), (B) heat pain stimulation: starting from a baseline temperature of 32⁰C, temperature increased at a rate of 1°C/s until reaching the individually adjusted stimulation temperature. The target temperature was held constant for 54 s and then returned to baseline temperature at a rate of 8⁰C/s, (C) pain intensity ratings on a visual analogue scale (VAS): VAS were shown on the screen for 8 s and participants were asked to rate pain intensity prior to picture viewing (VAS t1), and after each picture viewing time (VAS t2: after pic1-pic3; VAS t3: after pic4-pic6); (D) picture presentation and ratings: valence and arousal ratings were obtained using the self-assessment manikin (SAM). ITI: 15-35s.