Love as a Modulator of Pain
- Author:
Sofina Tamam
;
Asma Hayati Ahmad
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
pain;
love;
emotion;
reward;
neuroimaging
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
2017;24(3):5-14
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Pain is modulated by various factors, the most notable of which is emotions. Since love
is an emotion, it can also modulate pain. The answer to the question of whether it enhances or
reduces pain needs to be determined. A review was conducted of animal and human studies
in which this enigmatic emotion and its interaction with pain was explored. Recent advances
in neuroimaging have revealed similarities in brain activation relating to love and pain. At
the simplest level, this interaction can be explained by the overlapping network structure
in brain functional connectivity, although the explanation is considerably more complex. The
effect of love can either result in increased or decreased pain perception. An explanation
of the interaction between pain and love relates to the functional connectivity of the brain
and to the psychological construct of the individual, as well as to his or her ability to engage
resources relating to emotion regulation. In turn, this determines how a person relates to love
and reacts to pain.
- Full text:P020170717353365254559.pdf
