Florida State University
This randomized 2×2 factorial study will examine how verbal expectancy framing and mindfulness-specific practice instructions influence acute pain and brain activity in adults with chronic pain. Sixty meditation-naïve adults will be assigned to one of four conditions combining positive or negative expectancy framing with either a guided mindfulness exercise or a sham-meditation comparison exercise. Pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, anxiety, desire for pain medication, and mindfulness-related psychological states will be assessed before and immediately after the intervention, while electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to measure changes in brain activity during the exercise. The study is designed to clarify the independent and combined contributions of expectancy and mindfulness-specific instructions to acute pain relief and neurophysiological responses.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years or older * Chronic pain, defined as pain occurring on more days than not during the past 3 months * Average pain intensity ≥3 on a 0-10 scale during the past week * Meditation-naïve, defined as no prior formal or informal meditation training, including MBSR/MBCT, books, or online resources Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to provide informed consent * Acute cognitive impairment preventing meaningful participation, in the judgment of the study team * Unwillingness to refrain from as-needed pain-relief modalities for 3 hours before the laboratory exercise whe…
Standard mindfulness of breath practice to last 15 minutes. Accompanied by either a positive or negative expectancy script directly beforehand.
Sham-mindfulness comparator to last 15 min. Participants will be prompted every 3 min to "take a deep breath, as we sit here in mindfulness." Accompanied by either a positive or negative expectancy script directly beforehand.
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