Vivid memory for ‘everyday’ pains

A 2-part study in which memory for everyday pains was investigated is reported. The first part compared ratings of vivid, 'flashbulb' memories of pain and non-pain events. Memories of pain events were rated as having been more surprising, having induced more negative emotional change, and having provoked greater change in ongoing activity than their non-pain event counterparts. In the second part of the study the relationship between remembering the pain event, experiencing the pain and re-experiencing the sensory qualities was examined. No subject reported sensory re-experiencing and 41% of subjects were unable to recall the sensory quality of the pain experience memory. Elements of pain experience (recalled intensity, distress and sensory quality) were differentially associated with components of pain event memory. Distress was associated with the reported frequency with which the pain event was rehearsed and with ratings of emotional and activity change induced by the pain event. In contrast, ratings of the intensity and sensory quality of the pain were associated with the reported vividness of the pain event memory. It is concluded that memories of painful events are readily retrievable and that the memory for a pain event, the sensory and affective qualities of pain experience and somatosensory component of pain are separated in their encoding and/or retrieval. The possible mechanisms whereby pain memories are encoded and retrieved are discussed. The clinical implications of the data concerning how judgements of past pain are made and the possible role of memory in coping are also noted.