Pain and fear: a bioinformational perspective on responsivity to imagery.

Cognitive processing of pain and fear information was examined using a methodology based on the bioinformational theory of emotion. Undergraduate volunteers (n = 48) participated in an imagery assessment procedure involving audio presentation of pain, fear, or pain plus fear experimental scripts. Action and neutral scripts were presented as control stimuli. Heart rate and self-reported affective judgements were assessed. Results indicated that pain scripts were rated more negatively, and were associated with feelings of less dominance than the other experimental scripts. Fear scripts elicited greater heart rate acceleration than either pain or pain plus fear scripts. The direction of physiological and verbal response to pain scripts and fear scripts, however, was very similar, differing only in amplitude; greater heart rate response and more negative ratings were manifested relative to action or neutral scripts.