Eastern Kentucky University

Effects of Acute Pain with Cold Water Limb Submersion on Cognitive Performance of Simple Span Tasks

Grade Level at Time of Presentation

Senior

Major

Exercise and Sports Science

Institution 24-25

Eastern Kentucky University

KY House District #

56

KY Senate District #

6

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Pushing through aches and pain is a ritual for many. It is often overlooked that pain is a physical as well as mental phenomenon. It is well established that chronic pain increasingly affects performance the longer the duration and the higher the intensity. Performance in acute pain is less established for complex and simple span tasks. Previous research suggests only complex tasks are negatively affected by painful stimuli. This study seeks to confirm previous literature on complex span tasks and test if simple span tasks are affected by performance and pain intensities. 34 participants completed either the digit span test (DGS) for the simple span task or the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) for the complex span task. Ice was used as the painful stimulus. Results indicate improvements in PASAT performance in ice due to learning effects, with a slight decrease in performance on the DGS. Pain for the PASAT and DGS increased incrementally, with the DGS climbing pain ratings faster. Higher performance correlated to lower pain in the PASAT, whereas higher performance correlated to higher pain in the DGS. There were no gender differences in performance. These results suggest the PASAT utilizes more cognitive resources. A larger computerized study is needed to remove human error and expand our understanding of what affects the mechanisms of storage and processing information for better transfer to long-term memory.

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Effects of Acute Pain with Cold Water Limb Submersion on Cognitive Performance of Simple Span Tasks

Pushing through aches and pain is a ritual for many. It is often overlooked that pain is a physical as well as mental phenomenon. It is well established that chronic pain increasingly affects performance the longer the duration and the higher the intensity. Performance in acute pain is less established for complex and simple span tasks. Previous research suggests only complex tasks are negatively affected by painful stimuli. This study seeks to confirm previous literature on complex span tasks and test if simple span tasks are affected by performance and pain intensities. 34 participants completed either the digit span test (DGS) for the simple span task or the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) for the complex span task. Ice was used as the painful stimulus. Results indicate improvements in PASAT performance in ice due to learning effects, with a slight decrease in performance on the DGS. Pain for the PASAT and DGS increased incrementally, with the DGS climbing pain ratings faster. Higher performance correlated to lower pain in the PASAT, whereas higher performance correlated to higher pain in the DGS. There were no gender differences in performance. These results suggest the PASAT utilizes more cognitive resources. A larger computerized study is needed to remove human error and expand our understanding of what affects the mechanisms of storage and processing information for better transfer to long-term memory.