Effects of Acute Pain on Cognitive Performance in Young Adults

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Resting HR \< 50 or \> 100 bpm
• •2. Resting BP \< 90/60 or \> 140/95 mmHg
• •3. Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including ADD/ADHD, severe anxiety, severe depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc.
• •4. Score on the MoCA \<23
• •5. Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10
• •6. Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10
• •7. Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis
• •8. Any implanted electronic medical devices (i.e., cardiac pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, spinal cord neurostimulators)
• •9. Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus
• •10. History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan
• •11. Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months
• •12. Taking 4 or more medications
• •13. Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.)
• •14. Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body
• •15. Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers
• •16. Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
• •17. Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat
• •18. Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
• •19. Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years