The role of learning in pain reduction associated with relaxation and patterned breathing

The effect of relaxation and patterned breathing on pressure induced pain was assessed using signal detection procedures. Twenty-four student subjects each served in three experimental sessions and reported on three pairs of pressure induced intensities during either relaxation, patterned breathing, patterned finger tapping, or no-treatment conditions. Relaxation was associated with reliable reductions in the rated intensity of the stimuli, and seems to contribute directly to pain reduction. Slow breathing and finger-tapping were associated with intermediate ratings in the rated intensity of the stimuli, which did not differ from ratings made by subjects in the control condition.