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Abstract
Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition associating sensory, motor, trophic and autonomic symptoms in one limb. Cognitive difficulties have also been reported, affecting the patients’ ability to mentally represent, perceive and use their affected limb. However, the nature of these deficits is still a matter of debate. Recent studies suggested that cognitive deficits are limited to body-related information and body perception, while not extending to external space. Aims: Here we challenge that statement, by using temporal order judgment (TOJ) tasks with tactile (i.e. body) or visual (i.e. extra-body) stimuli in patients with upper-limb CRPS. Methods: TOJ tasks allow characterizing cognitive biases to the advantage of one of the two sides of space. Participants report which of two stimuli they perceive as presented first. In the tactile TOJ task, pairs of vibrotactile stimuli were presented, one stimulus applied to either hand. Patients performed the task with their arms either in a crossed or an uncrossed posture. In the visual TOJ task, pairs of visual stimuli were presented, one stimulus in either side of space, either close or far from the patients’ hands. Results: While the tactile TOJ task did not show any significant results, significant cognitive biases were observed in the visual TOJ task, affecting mostly the perception of visual stimuli occurring in the immediate vicinity of the affected limb. Conclusion & implications: Our results clearly demonstrate the presence of visuospatial deficits in CRPS, supporting the utility of developing rehabilitation techniques modifying visuospatial abilities to treat chronic pain.
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Filbrich, L., Verfaille, C., Berquin, A., Barbier, O., Libouton, X., Fraselle, V., Mouraux, D., & Legrain, V. (2017). Does CRPS Impair The Perception of Somatosensory and Non-somatosensory Stimuli? Pain Research Meeting 2017, Antwerp. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/267086