Contextual modulation of autonomic pain reactivity

Although modulation of cardiac activity may be influenced by several factors, interaction between autonomic nociceptive responses and the high-level of cortical processes is not clearly understood. Here, we studied in 26 subjects whether empathetic or unempathetic contexts could interact with autonomic pain responses. RR intervals variability was used to approach parasympathetic and sympathetic responses to painful thermal stimulations, according to contexts evoked by experimenters' comments. We observed that unempathetic context increased sympathetic reactivity to comments and to painful stimulations without any parasympathetic change. These results show an interaction between context and nociceptive processes in cardiovascular control. •Effects of empathetic context on autonomic pain responses.•Cardiac variability was used to approach parasympathetic and sympathetic responses•Unempathetic feedback increased sympathetic reactivity to painful stimulations.•An interaction between context and autonomic pain processes is illustrated.