The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain
BackgroundThe perception of pain is difficult to assess due to the complex combination of various components related to nociception, experience, and cognition. There are currently no biomarkers to assess the affective component of pain in healthy volunteers. Using Virtual Reality (VR), it may be pos...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pain Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1502616/full |
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| author | Ingrid Koopmans Ingrid Koopmans Robert-Jan Doll Robert-Jan Doll Maurice Hagemeijer Robert van Barneveld Marieke de Kam Geert Jan Groeneveld Geert Jan Groeneveld |
| author_facet | Ingrid Koopmans Ingrid Koopmans Robert-Jan Doll Robert-Jan Doll Maurice Hagemeijer Robert van Barneveld Marieke de Kam Geert Jan Groeneveld Geert Jan Groeneveld |
| author_sort | Ingrid Koopmans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe perception of pain is difficult to assess due to the complex combination of various components related to nociception, experience, and cognition. There are currently no biomarkers to assess the affective component of pain in healthy volunteers. Using Virtual Reality (VR), it may be possible to assess changes in pain perception when adding an affective component to painful stimulation.MethodsIn this two-visit feasibility study, we assess the effect of a simulated wound in VR on the electrical pain detection (PDT) and tolerance (PTT) threshold in 24 healthy male study participants. The VR simulation presented a copy of the research room from first person view. Prior to each VR assessment, study participants were primed by interacting with the VR environment. Two conditions were assessed: (1) VR-Wound: a burn-wound, smoke, and electrical sparks become visible and audible with increasing stimulus intensity, and (2) VR-neutral: no additional aspects. The PDT and PTT to electrical stimuli were recorded during both VR conditions and outside of VR. VAS-Questionnaires were used to assess unpleasantness and fear.ResultsThe PDT decreased when a virtual wound is presented compared to a neutral condition. Study participants experienced the electrical stimulation as more painful and more intense during the wound simulation than during the neutral condition. The effect was more pronounced during the second visit.ConclusionVR enhanced the perception of pain, thereby providing new insights into the affective component of pain. Further testing of this methodology is warranted by performing a clinical study that evaluates drug effects on the affective component of pain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24b7ba2e62494c58aee92d539c7f87a3 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-561X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pain Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-24b7ba2e62494c58aee92d539c7f87a32025-08-20T03:04:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pain Research2673-561X2025-02-01610.3389/fpain.2025.15026161502616The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of painIngrid Koopmans0Ingrid Koopmans1Robert-Jan Doll2Robert-Jan Doll3Maurice Hagemeijer4Robert van Barneveld5Marieke de Kam6Geert Jan Groeneveld7Geert Jan Groeneveld8Centre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, NetherlandsClinical Pharmacology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, NetherlandsCentre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, NetherlandsClinical Pharmacology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, NetherlandsRighteous Games, Eindhoven, NetherlandsRighteous Games, Eindhoven, NetherlandsCentre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, NetherlandsCentre for Human Drug Research, Leiden, NetherlandsClinical Pharmacology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, NetherlandsBackgroundThe perception of pain is difficult to assess due to the complex combination of various components related to nociception, experience, and cognition. There are currently no biomarkers to assess the affective component of pain in healthy volunteers. Using Virtual Reality (VR), it may be possible to assess changes in pain perception when adding an affective component to painful stimulation.MethodsIn this two-visit feasibility study, we assess the effect of a simulated wound in VR on the electrical pain detection (PDT) and tolerance (PTT) threshold in 24 healthy male study participants. The VR simulation presented a copy of the research room from first person view. Prior to each VR assessment, study participants were primed by interacting with the VR environment. Two conditions were assessed: (1) VR-Wound: a burn-wound, smoke, and electrical sparks become visible and audible with increasing stimulus intensity, and (2) VR-neutral: no additional aspects. The PDT and PTT to electrical stimuli were recorded during both VR conditions and outside of VR. VAS-Questionnaires were used to assess unpleasantness and fear.ResultsThe PDT decreased when a virtual wound is presented compared to a neutral condition. Study participants experienced the electrical stimulation as more painful and more intense during the wound simulation than during the neutral condition. The effect was more pronounced during the second visit.ConclusionVR enhanced the perception of pain, thereby providing new insights into the affective component of pain. Further testing of this methodology is warranted by performing a clinical study that evaluates drug effects on the affective component of pain.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1502616/fullvirtual realitypainaffective componentdrug developmentbiomarker |
| spellingShingle | Ingrid Koopmans Ingrid Koopmans Robert-Jan Doll Robert-Jan Doll Maurice Hagemeijer Robert van Barneveld Marieke de Kam Geert Jan Groeneveld Geert Jan Groeneveld The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain Frontiers in Pain Research virtual reality pain affective component drug development biomarker |
| title | The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain |
| title_full | The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain |
| title_fullStr | The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain |
| title_short | The impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity: insights into the affective dimension of pain |
| title_sort | impact of a virtual wound on pain sensitivity insights into the affective dimension of pain |
| topic | virtual reality pain affective component drug development biomarker |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpain.2025.1502616/full |
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