THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED AND CHRONIC UNILATERAL PAIN - REFLECTIONS OF HEMISPHERIC LATERALIZATION OF EMOTION

In a series of three studies with right handed subjects, left Side pai n is tolerated less well than right side pain with a cold pressor, and results in greater emotional disturbance, both with a cold presser an d in chronic pain patients. In the second study where comparisons are made with non-stimulated controls, acute left side pain results in hig her state anxiety scores than controls; right side pain and control gr oups are comparable. The differences between the reactions to left and right side pain are consistent with activation of the emotional prope rties of the hemisphere contralateral to the painful stimulation.