To focus on pain or not to focus: WHEN is the question.

疼痛是一种无处不在的体验，持续的疼痛是常见的，引起巨大的个人和

The experience of pain is a ubiquitous experience, and persistent pain is common and causes enormous personal and societal burden. Anyone who has been in severe pain will understand that pain captures attention, but the role that attention plays in increasing pain perception is poorly understood. This project will test a new conceptual model that calls for a change in the paradigm underlying research into attention and pain. We will use novel experimental tasks in virtual reality environments to address these important gaps in our knowledge. The project will significantly advance our fundamental understanding of the role of attention in pain perception and pave the way for translational research to reduce the substantial burden pain causes.