High incidence of 'synaesthesia for pain' in amputees

Bernadette M. Fitzgibbon; Peter G. Enticott; Anina N. Rich; Melita J. Giummarra; Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis; Jack W. Tsao; Sharon R. Weeks; John L. Bradshaw

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.07.029

High incidence of 'synaesthesia for pain' in amputees

Bernadette M. Fitzgibbon, Peter G. Enticott, Anina N. Rich, Melita J. Giummarra, Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis, Jack W. Tsao, Sharon R. Weeks, John L. Bradshaw

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Synaesthesia for pain is a phenomenon where a person experiences pain when observing or imagining another in pain. Anecdotal reports of this type of experience have most commonly occurred in individuals who have lost a limb. Distinct from phantom pain, synaesthesia for pain is triggered specifically in response to pain in another. Here, we provide the first preliminary investigation into synaesthesia for pain in amputees to determine the incidence and characteristics of this intriguing phenomenon. Self-referring amputees (n= 74) answered questions on synaesthesia for pain within a broader survey of phantom pain. Of the participants, 16.2% reported that observing or imagining pain in another person triggers their phantom pain. Further understanding of synaesthesia for pain may provide a greater insight to abnormal empathic function in clinical populations as well as therapeutic intervention for at risk groups.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3675-3678
Number of pages	4
Journal	Neuropsychologia
Volume	48
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.07.029
State	Published - Oct 2010
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Mirror systems
Phantom pain

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Behavioral Neuroscience

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10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.07.029

Cite this

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title = "High incidence of 'synaesthesia for pain' in amputees",

abstract = "Synaesthesia for pain is a phenomenon where a person experiences pain when observing or imagining another in pain. Anecdotal reports of this type of experience have most commonly occurred in individuals who have lost a limb. Distinct from phantom pain, synaesthesia for pain is triggered specifically in response to pain in another. Here, we provide the first preliminary investigation into synaesthesia for pain in amputees to determine the incidence and characteristics of this intriguing phenomenon. Self-referring amputees (n= 74) answered questions on synaesthesia for pain within a broader survey of phantom pain. Of the participants, 16.2% reported that observing or imagining pain in another person triggers their phantom pain. Further understanding of synaesthesia for pain may provide a greater insight to abnormal empathic function in clinical populations as well as therapeutic intervention for at risk groups.",

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author = "Fitzgibbon, {Bernadette M.} and Enticott, {Peter G.} and Rich, {Anina N.} and Giummarra, {Melita J.} and Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis and Tsao, {Jack W.} and Weeks, {Sharon R.} and Bradshaw, {John L.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank the people who kindly completed our survey. ANR is supported by an Australian Research Council postdoctoral fellowship (DP0984494) and the Menzies Foundation . PGE is supported by an NHMRC Training Fellowship. SW was sponsored by the Military Amputee Research Program through the Department of the US Army under Award Number W81XWH-06-2-0073 to the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. The US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, 820 Chandler Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014 is the awarding and administering acquisition office. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the United States Department of the Navy, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense.",

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AU - Georgiou-Karistianis, Nellie

AU - Tsao, Jack W.

AU - Weeks, Sharon R.

AU - Bradshaw, John L.

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High incidence of 'synaesthesia for pain' in amputees

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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