Georgia Southern University
Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of
Spring 2017
The Effect of Acute Pain on Executive Function Jenna M. Morogiello Georgia Southern University
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Part of the Musculoskeletal, Neural, and Ocular Physiology Commons Recommended Citation Morogiello, Jenna M., "The Effect of Acute Pain on Executive Function" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1566. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/1566
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THE EFFECT OF ACUTE PAIN ON EXECUTIVE FUNCTION by JENNA MOROGIELLO (Under the Direction of Nicholas Murray) ABSTRACT Background: Executive functions are high-level cognitive processes that allow a person to successfully engage in an independent and self-fulfilling life. Previous literature indicates that acute pain can affect executive function, which may be due to a limited amount of shared neural resources of the brain. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if acute pain affects executive function in recreationally active individuals who sustain a musculoskeletal injury. Methodology: Twenty-four participants who presented with acute pain due to a musculoskeletal injury underwent a neuropsychological battery within 72 hours of injury and within two weeks from the initial testing session. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The neuropsychological battery consisted of the following tests: Digit Span (DS), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and Trail Making Test B (TMT-B). The DS was broken into two separate scores, the RAVLT 4 scores, and TMT-B one score. Seven paired samples t-tests were conducted using an adjusted alpha level of .007. Significance: Participants had significantly improved scores when pain free in DS forwards (T(1,23)=-3.943; p