Cited by 249Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesPain Mechanisms and TreatmentsPain Management and Placebo Effect

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 85 of the 85 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Performance-dependent inhibition of pain by an executive working memory task

Open access

Buhle, Jason, Wager, Tor D.·2010·Pain

DOI 10.1016/j.pain.2009.10.027PMC PMC4229048

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

It is widely assumed that distraction reduces pain. Similarly, it is assumed that pain distracts from concurrent, unrelated cognitive processing, reducing performance on difficult tasks. Taken together, these assumptions suggest pain processing and cognitive function engage an overlapping set of domain-general, capacity-limited mental resources. However, experimental tests of this proposal have yielded mixed results, leading to alternative proposals that challenge the common model of a bidirectional relationship between concurrent pain and task performance. We tested these contrasting positions using a novel concurrent pain and executive working memory paradigm. Both task difficulty and nociceptive stimulus intensity were individually calibrated for each participant. Participants reported less pain during the working memory task than a visually matched control condition. Conversely, increasing levels of heat incrementally reduced task performance. Path analyses showed that variations in pain completely mediated this effect, and that even within a given heat level, trial-by-trial fluctuations in pain predicted decrements in performance. In sum, these findings argue that overlapping cognitive resources play a role in both pain processing and executive working memory. Future studies could use this paradigm to understand more precisely which components of executive function or other cognitive resources contribute to the experience of pain.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.pain.2009.10.027

Cites

85 of 85 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

An Introduction to the Bootstrap
Efron, B., & Tibshirani, R. J. (1994) · doi:10.1201/9780429246593 · Cited by 40,500
The Unity and Diversity of Executive Functions and Their Contributions to Complex “Frontal Lobe” Tasks: A Latent Variable Analysis
Miyake, A., Friedman, N. P., Emerson, M. J., Witzki, A. H., Howerter, A., & Wager, T. D. (2000) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1006/cogp.1999.0734 · Cited by 15,798
Self-citation
Mersenne twister: a 623-dimensionally equidistributed uniform pseudo-random number generator
Matsumoto, M., & Nishimura, T. (1998) · ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation · doi:10.1145/272991.272995 · Cited by 5,780
Storage and Executive Processes in the Frontal Lobes
Smith, E. E., & Jonides, J. (1999) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.283.5408.1657 · Cited by 2,834
On data-limited and resource-limited processes
Norman, D. A., & Bobrow, D. G. (1975) · Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1016/0010-0285(75)90004-3 · Cited by 2,403
The role of prefrontal cortex in working-memory capacity, executive attention, and general fluid intelligence: An individual-differences perspective
Kane, M. J., & Engle, R. W. (2002) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/bf03196323 · Cited by 2,229
Functional imaging of brain responses to pain. A review and meta-analysis (2000)
Peyron, R., Laurent, B., & García-Larrea, L. (2000) · Neurophysiologie Clinique/Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/s0987-7053(00)00227-6 · Cited by 2,171
Distracted and confused? Selective attention under load
Lavie, N. (2005) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2004.12.004 · Cited by 2,102
Neuroimaging studies of working memory:
Wager, T. D., & Smith, E. E. (2003) · Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/cabn.3.4.255 · Cited by 1,889
Self-citation
Temporal dynamics of brain activation during a working memory task
Cohen, J. D., Perlstein, W. M., Braver, T. S., Nystrom, L. E., Noll, D. C., Jonides, J., & Smith, E. E. (1997) · Nature · doi:10.1038/386604a0 · Cited by 1,876

Show all 84 references

Sorted by citations

Items 101–200 of 248

The effect of high versus low cognitive load on the development of nociceptive hypersensitivity: The roles of sympathetic arousal, sex and pain‐related fear
Meyers, E., Vlaeyen, J. W. S., van den Broeke, E. N., von Leupoldt, A., Palmer, A., & Torta, D. M. E. (2023) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1002/ejp.2098 · Cited by 20
The Interaction of Gambling Outcome and Gambling Harm-Minimisation Strategies for Electronic Gambling: the Efficacy of Computer Generated Self-Appraisal Messaging
Harris, A., & Parke, A. (2015) · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · doi:10.1007/s11469-015-9581-y · Cited by 23
Effect of local versus remote tonic heat pain during training on acquisition and retention of a finger-tapping sequence task
Bilodeau, M.-C., Roosink, M., & Mercier, C. (2015) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-015-4478-3 · Cited by 19
Better Executive Functions Are Associated With More Efficient Cognitive Pain Modulation in Older Adults: An fMRI Study
Rischer, K. M., Anton, F., González‐Roldán, A. M., Montoya, P., & van der Meulen, M. (2022) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.828742 · Cited by 22
Expectation influences the interruptive function of pain: Behavioural and neural findings
Sinke, C., Schmidt, K., Forkmann, K., & Bingel, U. (2016) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1002/ejp.928 · Cited by 17
The focus of spatial attention during the induction of central sensitization can modulate the subsequent development of secondary hyperalgesia
Filbrich, L., van den Broeke, E. N., Legrain, V., & Mouraux, A. (2019) · Cortex · doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2019.11.014 · Cited by 16
Distraction by a cognitive task has a higher impact on electrophysiological measures compared with conditioned pain modulation
Do, A. T. L., Enax‐Krumova, E., Özgül, Ö. S., Eitner, L., Heba, S., Tegenthoff, M., Maier, C., & Höffken, O. (2020) · BMC Neuroscience · doi:10.1186/s12868-020-00604-1 · Cited by 18
Emotionsregulation und Schmerzen
Konietzny, K., Boris Suchan, A., Kreddig, N., Hasenbring, M. I., & Chehadi, O. (2016) · Der Schmerz · doi:10.1007/s00482-016-0162-1 · Cited by 16
Executive Functioning in Adolescents with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Mano, K. E. J., Beckmann, E. A., Fussner, L. M., & Kashikar‐Zuck, S. (2020) · Children · doi:10.3390/children7120273 · Cited by 17
Is touch gating due to sensory or cognitive interference?
Harper, D., & Hollins, M. (2012) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2012.02.011 · Cited by 19
The integration of negative affect, pain and cognitive control in the cingulate cortex
Fig., A. (2011) · Cited by 16
Distraction and cognitive control independently impact parietal and prefrontal response to pain
Silvestrini, N., & Corradi‐Dell’Acqua, C. (2023) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsad018 · Cited by 16
Task requirements change signal strength of the primary somatosensory M50: Oddball vs. one‐back tasks
Götz, T., Huonker, R., Miltner, W. H. R., Witte, O. W., Dettner, K., & Weiß, T. (2010) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01116.x · Cited by 15
Modification of Descending Analgesia in Aging: Critical Role of the Prefrontal Cortex
Lithfous, S., Després, O., Pébayle, T., & Dufour, A. (2019) · The Clinical Journal of Pain · doi:10.1097/ajp.0000000000000655 · Cited by 14
Cognitive fatigue weakens the effects of distraction on pain
Vogel, T. A., Desjardins, S., Chabot, B., Otto, A. R., Falk, C. F., & Roy, M. (2023) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002985 · Cited by 15
The Impact of Pain on Subsequent Effort and Cognitive Performance
Silvestrini, N., & Corradi‐Dell’Acqua, C. (2022) · Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1027/0269-8803/a000308 · Cited by 14
Experimental hypervigilance changes the intensity/unpleasantness ratio of pressure sensations: evidence for the generalized hypervigilance hypothesis
Hollins, M., & Walters, S. (2016) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-015-4541-0 · Cited by 14
When Less Is More: Investigating Factors Influencing the Distraction Effect of Virtual Reality From Pain
Barcatta, K., Holl, E. A., Battistutta, L., van der Meulen, M., & Rischer, K. M. (2022) · Frontiers in Pain Research · doi:10.3389/fpain.2021.800258 · Cited by 13
What Is Minimally Required to Elicit Placebo Effects?
Jensen, K. B. (2018) · International review of neurobiology · doi:10.1016/bs.irn.2018.01.008 · Cited by 13
The Role of Attention in Placebo and Nocebo Effects
Barbiani, D., Camerone, E. M., Grosso, F., Geers, A. L., & Pagnini, F. (2024) · Annals of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1093/abm/kaae038 · Cited by 14
How Accurate Appraisal of Behavioral Costs and Benefits Guides Adaptive Pain Coping
Gandhi, W., Morrison, I., & Schweinhardt, P. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00103 · Cited by 14
Predicting pain among female survivors of recent interpersonal violence: A proof-of-concept machine-learning approach
Lannon, E. W., Sánchez‐Sáez, F., Bailey, B., Hellman, N. M., Kinney, K. L., Williams, A., Nag, S., Kutcher, M., Goodin, B. R., Rao, U., et al. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0255277 · Cited by 13
Working Memory Performance, Pain and Associated Clinical Variables in Women With Fibromyalgia
Gil‐Ugidos, A., Rodríguez, D., Pidal-Miranda, M., Samartin-Veiga, N., Fernández‐Prieto, M., & Carrillo‐de‐la‐Peña, M. T. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.747533 · Cited by 12
No evidence for an effect of selective spatial attention on the development of secondary hyperalgesia: A replication study
Porta, D. D., Vilz, M.-L., Kuzminova, A., Filbrich, L., Mouraux, A., & Legrain, V. (2022) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2022.997230 · Cited by 12
The effect of executive function on the development of chronic pain: A prospective longitudinal study
Ng, W. Q., & Hartanto, A. (2022) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115478 · Cited by 12
Chronic Pain Produces Reversible Memory Deficits That Depend on Task Difficulty in Rats
Phelps, C. E., Navratilova, E., & Porreca, F. (2021) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.016 · Cited by 12
Shifting the perspective: how positive thinking can help diminish the negative effects of pain
Boselie, J. J. L. M., & Peters, M. L. (2023) · Scandinavian Journal of Pain · doi:10.1515/sjpain-2022-0129 · Cited by 15
It’s complicated: Executive functioning moderates impacts of daily busyness on everyday functioning in community-dwelling older adults
Suchy, Y., Mora, M. G., DesRuisseaux, L. A., & Brothers, S. L. (2023) · Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society · doi:10.1017/s1355617723000048 · Cited by 13
Nonlinear Effects of Noxious Thermal Stimulation and Working Memory Demands on Subjective Pain Perception
Sturgeon, J. A., Tieu, M. M., Jastrzab, L. E., McCue, R., Gandhi, V., & Mackey, S. (2015) · Pain Medicine · doi:10.1111/pme.12774 · Cited by 12
Cold Pressor-Induced Pain Does Not Impair WAIS-IV Processing Speed Index or Working Memory Index Performance
Etherton, J. L. (2013) · Applied Neuropsychology Adult · doi:10.1080/09084282.2012.718017 · Cited by 12
How the win–lose balance situation affects subsequent decision-making: Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence from a gambling task
Dong, G., Lin, X., Zhou, H., & Lu, Q. (2014) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.04.058 · Cited by 11
Attentional control and the competition between nonpain goals and the threat of pain
Karsdorp, P. A., Schrooten, M. G. S., & Geenen, R. (2017) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1002/ejp.1114 · Cited by 14
On the implicit influence of pain cues on cognitive effort: Evidence from cardiovascular reactivity
Silvestrini, N. (2017) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.11.002 · Cited by 11
An incremental dual-task paradigm to investigate pain attenuation by task difficulty, affective content and threat value
Vuong, Q. C., Owen, A., Akin-Akinyosoye, K., & Araújo‐Soares, V. (2018) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207023 · Cited by 11
Impact of pain on mental effort assessed as cardiovascular reactivity
Cancela, T., & Silvestrini, N. (2021) · PAIN Reports · doi:10.1097/pr9.0000000000000917 · Cited by 11
Activity interruptions by pain impair activity resumption, but not more than activity interruptions by other stimuli: an experimental investigation
Gatzounis, R., Schrooten, M. G. S., Crombez, G., & Vlaeyen, J. W. S. (2017) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001079 · Cited by 11
Corticomotor excitability reduction induced by experimental pain remains unaffected by performing a working memory task as compared to staying at rest
Larsen, D. B., Graven‐Nielsen, T., Hirata, R. P., Seminowicz, D. A., Schabrun, S. M., & Boudreau, S. A. (2019) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-019-05587-y · Cited by 11
No Evidence That Working Memory Modulates the Plasticity of the Nociceptive System, as Measured by Secondary Mechanical Hypersensitivity
Meyers, E., Alves, M., Teugels, A., & Torta, D. M. E. (2023) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2023.05.016 · Cited by 10
The disruptive effects of pain on multitasking in a virtual errands task
Moore, D., & Law, A. S. (2017) · Scandinavian Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.02.006 · Cited by 10
Pain Catastrophizing Mediates and Moderates the Link Between Acute Pain and Working Memory
Procento, P., Rand, K. L., Stewart, J. C., & Hirsh, A. T. (2021) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2021.03.138 · Cited by 10
Attention and pain: are auditory distractors special?
Sloan, P., & Hollins, M. (2017) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-017-4903-x · Cited by 10
Alterations in Neural Responses and Pain Perception in Older Adults During Distraction
González‐Roldán, A. M., Terrasa, J. L., Sitges, C., van der Meulen, M., Anton, F., & Montoya, P. (2020) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000870 · Cited by 11
The effect of pain on involuntary and voluntary capture of attention
Troche, S. J., Houlihan, M., Connolly, J. F., Dick, B. D., McGrath, P. J., Finley, G. A., & Stroink, G. (2014) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1002/ejp.553 · Cited by 10
Naked mole-rats lack cold sensitivity before and after nerve injury
Poulson, S. J., Aldarraji, A., Arain, I. I., Dziekonski, N., Motlana, K., Riley, R., Holmes, M. M., & Martin, L. J. (2020) · Molecular Pain · doi:10.1177/1744806920955103 · Cited by 10
Spinal and Supraspinal Mechanisms of Placebo Analgesia
Eippert, F., & Büchel, C. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397928-5.00007-6 · Cited by 8
Room for Feelings: A “Working Memory” Account of Affective Processing
van Dillen, L. V., & Hofmann, W. (2023) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/17540739221150233 · Cited by 6
Disentangling opposing effects of motivational states on pain perception
Geuter, S., Cunningham, J. T., & Wager, T. D. (2016) · PAIN Reports · doi:10.1097/pr9.0000000000000574 · Cited by 9
Self-citation
Shockwave lithotripsy with music: Less painful and more satisfactory treatment
Jurado, D. G. O., Alba, A. B., Mateu, P. B., Villa, M. T., López-Acón, D., & Tormo, F. B. (2017) · Actas Urológicas Españolas (English Edition) · doi:10.1016/j.acuroe.2017.08.006 · Cited by 9
The effect of resilience on task persistence and performance during repeated exposure to heat pain
Slepian, P. M., & France, C. R. (2017) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-017-9854-y · Cited by 8
Litotricia por ondas de choque con música: un tratamiento menos doloroso y más satisfactorio
Jurado, D. G. O., Alba, A. B., Mateu, P. B., Villa, M. T., López-Acón, D., & Tormo, F. B. (2017) · Actas Urológicas Españolas · doi:10.1016/j.acuro.2017.01.012 · Cited by 8
Cognitive Inhibition Correlates with Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia After Aerobic Bicycling in Pain-Free Participants
Gajsar, H., Titze, C., Konietzny, K., Meyer, M., Vægter, H. B., & Hasenbring, M. I. (2020) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s238718 · Cited by 8
Brain Activity in Advantageous and Disadvantageous Situations: Implications for Reward/Punishment Sensitivity in Different Situations
Dong, G., Lin, X., Hu, Y., & Lu, Q. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080232 · Cited by 8
Low working memory underpins the association between aberrant functional properties of pain modulation circuitry and chronic back pain severity
Veinot, J., Cane, D. B., & Hashmi, J. A. (2025) · Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2025.104795 · Cited by 7
Anxiety and the problem of “inattentive” animals in water maze tests
Bondarenko, N. (2017) · The Russian Journal of Cognitive Science · doi:10.47010/17.4.7 · Cited by 7
Pain resilience, pain catastrophizing, and executive functioning: performance on a short-term memory task during simultaneous ischemic pain
Ysidron, D. W., France, J. L., Himawan, L. K., & France, C. R. (2020) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-020-00181-y · Cited by 6
Taking a break in response to pain. An experimental investigation of the effects of interruptions by pain on subsequent activity resumption
Gatzounis, R., Schrooten, M. G. S., Crombez, G., Vancleef, L. M. G., & Vlaeyen, J. W. S. (2017) · Scandinavian Journal of Pain · doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.02.008 · Cited by 6
Placebo Manipulations Reverse Pain Potentiation by Unpleasant Affective Stimuli
Reicherts, P., Pauli, P., Camilla, M., & Wieser, M. J. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00663 · Cited by 7
Cognitive Components Predict Virtual Reality-Induced Analgesia: Repeated Measures in Healthy Subjects
Demeter, N., Pud, D., & Josman, N. (2018) · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · doi:10.3389/frobt.2017.00070 · Cited by 7
Human creativity escapes in the struggle against threat: Evidence from neural mechanisms
Yin, J., Hu, Y., Li, Q., & Luo, J. (2022) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108359 · Cited by 7
Can we characterize A-P/IAP behavioural phenotypes in people with chronic pain?
Sanmugananthan, V. V., Cheng, J. C., Hemington, K. S., Rogachov, A., Osborne, N. R., Bosma, R. L., Kim, J. A., Inman, R. D., & Davis, K. D. (2023) · Frontiers in Pain Research · doi:10.3389/fpain.2023.1057659 · Cited by 5
Unconscious Activation of Negative Emotional Memories Increases Pain Unpleasantness
Frisch, S., Walter, S., Rebhann, V., Gruss, S., Geisel, D., Bär, K., Gündel, H., Lane, R. D., & Smith, R. S. (2024) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000001315 · Cited by 5
Independent effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and social influence on pain
Dehghani, A., Bango, C. I., Murphy, E. K., Halter, R. J., & Wager, T. D. (2024) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003338 · Cited by 5
Self-citation
Pain and Attention
Ryckeghem, D. M. L. V., & Crombez, G. (2018) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190627898.003.0006 · Cited by 14
How does experimentally induced pain affect creative ideation and underlying attention-related psychophysiological mechanisms?
Gubler, D. A., Rominger, C., Jakob, D., & Troche, S. J. (2023) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108514 · Cited by 5
The Effects of Cold Pressor-Induced Pain on PASAT Performance
Tapscott, B. E., & Etherton, J. L. (2014) · Applied Neuropsychology Adult · doi:10.1080/23279095.2014.910213 · Cited by 5
Performance on selected visual and auditory subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale–Fourth Edition during laboratory-induced pain
Etherton, J. L., & Tapscott, B. E. (2015) · Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/13803395.2014.1002756 · Cited by 5
Clinical Pain and Neuropsychological Functioning in Parkinson’s Disease: Are They Related?
Engels, G., Weeda, W. D., Vlaar, A. M. M., Weinstein, H. C., & Scherder, E. (2016) · Parkinson s Disease · doi:10.1155/2016/8675930 · Cited by 5
Is blood glucose associated with descending modulation of spinal nociception as measured by the nociceptive flexion reflex?
Terry, E. L., Guereca, Y. M., Martin, S. L., & Rhudy, J. L. (2016) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s101720 · Cited by 6
Virtual reality as an acute pain reliever during laceration repair in emergency departments: a randomized controlled trialPreprint
Rezai, M., Namdari, L., Farsi, D., Ashayeri, N., Naghshbandi, M., Hariri, M., & Ghafoury, R. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3494621/v1 · Cited by 5
Temporal summation of second pain is affected by cognitive load
Rubal‐Otero, L., Gil‐Ugidos, A., González-Villar, A. J., & Carrillo‐de‐la‐Peña, M. T. (2024) · Journal of Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1002/jnr.25363 · Cited by 4
Interactive and passive mixed reality distraction: effects on cold pressor pain in adults
Murray, J. G., & Caes, L. (2024) · Frontiers in Pain Research · doi:10.3389/fpain.2024.1331700 · Cited by 4
Training intervention effects on cognitive performance and neuronal plasticity—A pilot study
Wiebking, C., Lin, C., & Wippert, P. (2022) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.773813 · Cited by 4
Effects of aging on experimentally induced pain perception during a distraction task
Fernández-Palacios, F. G., Tejera-Alonso, Á., Pacho-Hernández, J. C., Naeimi, A., De-la-Llave-Rincón, A. I., Ambite‐Quesada, S., Ortega‐Santiago, R., Fernández‐de‐las‐Peñas, C., Valera‐Calero, J. A., & Cigarán‐Méndez, M. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-94849-7 · Cited by 4
The Perception of Available Resources Influences the After-Effect of Cognitive Control on Cognitive Performance and Pain
Silvestrini, N., Vuignier, E., Matthey, A., & Piguet, V. (2019) · Social Psychology · doi:10.1027/1864-9335/a000386 · Cited by 4
Effects of Brief Mindfulness Interventions on the Interference Induced by Experimental Heat Pain on Cognition in Healthy Individuals
Gill, L.-N., Tabry, V., Taylor, V. A., Lussier, M., Martinu, K., Bherer, L., Roy, M., & Rainville, P. (2021) · Frontiers in Pain Research · doi:10.3389/fpain.2021.673027 · Cited by 5
Pain and executive function: no association between remote exercise-induced hypoalgesia and cognitive inhibition in pain-free participants
Gajsar, H., Meyer, M., Hasenbring, M. I., & Vægter, H. B. (2021) · Scandinavian Journal of Pain · doi:10.1515/sjpain-2021-0071 · Cited by 4
Context effects in cognitive effort evaluation
Desjardins, S., Tang, R., Yip, S., Roy, M., & Otto, A. R. (2024) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/s13423-024-02547-8 · Cited by 8
Acute pain disrupts prospective memory cue detection processes
Pitães, M., Blais, C., Karoly, P., Okun, M. A., & Brewer, G. A. (2018) · Memory · doi:10.1080/09658211.2018.1491602 · Cited by 5
WAIS-IV Verbal Comprehension Index and Perceptual Reasoning Index Performance is Unaffected by Cold-Pressor Pain Induction
Etherton, J. L. (2014) · Applied Neuropsychology Adult · doi:10.1080/23279095.2013.838166 · Cited by 4
Flow-Induced Analgesia: A Conceptual Review of Biopsychosocial and Neurobiological Mechanisms of Pain Modulation
Gromakovskis, V., & Gūtmanis, M. (2025) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s564395 · Cited by 4
Working Memory Load-Dependent Cortical Mechanism of Distraction Analgesia in Healthy Individuals: An fNIRS Study
Du, R., Lao, M., Cheng, M., Wang, Z., Zheng, Z., Tang, P., Hu, Y., & Wu, W. (2025) · Journal of Pain Research · doi:10.2147/jpr.s546795 · Cited by 4
Pain and gain: Monetary incentive moderates pain's impact on effort‐related cardiac response
Cancela, T., Gendolla, G. H. E., & Silvestrini, N. (2022) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.14231 · Cited by 4
Cognitive exertion affects the appraisal of one’s own and other people’s pain
Riontino, L., Fournier, R., Lapteva, A., Silvestrini, N., Schwartz, S., & Corradi‐Dell’Acqua, C. (2023) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-35103-w · Cited by 3
Behavioral modeling and neuroimaging of impaired risky decision making in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain
Zeng, X., Tang, W. J., Gao, F., Tang, Z., Zhang, Z., Zhang, J., Du, M., Chen, Z., Chen, X., & Yuan, Z. (2023) · Neurophotonics · doi:10.1117/1.nph.10.2.020901 · Cited by 4
Chronic pain is specifically associated with updating working memory: a longitudinal twin study
Rader, L., Wager, T. D., & Friedman, N. P. (2024) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003347 · Cited by 3
Self-citation
Affective Game Planning for Playing the Pain
Goodman-Vincent, E., Roy, M., & Khalili‐Mahani, N. (2020) · Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in Play · doi:10.1145/3383668.3419933 · Cited by 3
Forgetting to remember? Prospective memory within the context of pain
Gatzounis, R., Schrooten, M. G. S., Crombez, G., & Vlaeyen, J. W. S. (2017) · European Journal of Pain · doi:10.1002/ejp.1152 · Cited by 3
Pain – Not just a feeling, but a working brain
Lorenz, J. (2010) · Pain · doi:10.1016/j.pain.2010.01.018 · Cited by 3
Defining and validating a multidimensional digital metric of health states in chronic back and leg pain
Reinen, J., Agurto, C., Cecchi, G., NAVITAS and ENVISION Studies Physician Author Group, Rauck, R. L., Loudermilk, E., Paez, J., Bojrab, L., Noles, J., Turley, T., et al. (2025) · npj Digital Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41746-025-02084-1 · Cited by 2
Schmerzinduzierte Aufmerksamkeitsallokationseffekte vs. Ablenkung vom Schmerz
Romero, Y. R., Miltner, W. H. R., & Weiß, T. (2014) · Der Schmerz · doi:10.1007/s00482-014-1446-y · Cited by 2
Inventory for Early Screening of Work Addiction-Related Behaviors in High School and Undergraduate Students
Atroszko, P. A. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92392-1_177 · Cited by 2
The effects of experimental pain on episodic memory and its top-down modulation: a preregistered pooled analysis
Kaur, J., Bingel, U., Kincses, B., Forkmann, K., & Schmidt, K. (2024) · PAIN Reports · doi:10.1097/pr9.0000000000001178 · Cited by 2
Executive Function: Application in the Rehabilitation of Chronic Pain
Uddin, Z., MacDermid, J. C., & Galea, V. (2012) · Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine · doi:10.1615/critrevphysrehabilmed.2013007636 · Cited by 2
Interventions for attentional disruption in pain: cognition-general, mechanism-specific, or exercise-based?
Attridge, N., & Niederstrasser, N. G. (2018) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001176 · Cited by 2
The effect of pain on reference memory for duration
Piovesan, A., Mirams, L., Poole, H. M., & Ogden, R. (2021) · Psychological Research · doi:10.1007/s00426-021-01508-3 · Cited by 2
Comparison between the Impacts of Memory and Arithmetic-Based Dual Tasks on Physical Performance in Women with Fibromyalgia
Sánchez-Gómez, J. M., Villafaina, S., Domínguez‐Muñoz, F. J., Llamas, J. L. L., Murillo-García, Á., & Gusi, N. (2022) · Biology · doi:10.3390/biology11070947 · Cited by 2
Emotion Regulation in Pain : Developing Effective Interventions for Patients with Pain and Emotional Distress
Södermark, M. (2023) · Linköping University medical dissertations · doi:10.3384/9789180753692 · Cited by 2
Effectiveness of Physiotherapy Interventions on Executive Function in Patients with Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
Donado-Bermejo, A., Di‐Bonaventura, S., Barrenechea-Leal, P., Mercado, F., Fernández-Sánchez, M., & Ferrer-Peña, R. (2026) · Neurology International · doi:10.3390/neurolint18030055 · Cited by 1
«Schmerz, du bist ein Teil meines Lebens, aber nicht der wichtigste!»
Erhardt-Raum, G. (2019) · manuelletherapie · doi:10.1055/a-0903-9105 · Cited by 1
Pain-dependent learning in healthy volunteers
Sordo, G. C. D., & Simon, D. A. (2021) · Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1177/17470218211001057 · Cited by 1

Authors: Buhle, J., & Wager, T. D.
Affiliations: Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author: Buhle, Jason
ORCID: Wager, Tor D.
Venue: Pain
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published: 2010-04
Volume: 149
Issue: 1
Pages: 19-26
ISSN: 0304-3959 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.10.027
PMC: PMC4229048
OpenAlex: W2079787245
Cited by: 249
References: 84
Citations by year: 2026: 12 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 16
FWCI: 10.46
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Locations: Pain (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (MH076136, R01MH076136)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
Keywords: pain distraction, thermal pain, cognitive resources, task difficulty
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Attention, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Pain, Pain Measurement, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Performance-dependent inhibition of pain by an executive working memory task

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Self-check

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks