The Intersection of Interoception and Anticipation Related to Pain.

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the interconnectedness of bodily awareness, emotion, and time perception, focusing on the roles of interoception and anticipation, pioneered by A.D. (Bud) Craig and advanced by contemporary research. Pain, a pivotal aspect of human experience, serves as a conduit for understanding our relationship with the world. Anticipation of pain, vital for survival, influences subjective pain experiences and is modulated by factors such as physiological reactivity and contextual cues. Emotional states significantly shape pain perception, with chronic pain conditions and affective disorders characterized by dysregulated pain modulation mechanisms. We discuss a state space model for pain, wherein pain functions as a latent construct shaped by both anticipatory and contemporaneous factors. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for informing clinical interventions aimed at pain management and highlights the intersection of interoception, emotion, and pain.