Counter-stimulation reduces pain perception; however, the role of attention during this
process is rarely discussed despite attention itself being a well known modulator of pain
perception. This study investigated the effect of attentional modulation on pain perception
during counter-stimulation using fMRI. Subjects received a noxious thermal stimulus
together with an innocuous vibratory counter-stimulus. Subjects directed their attention
towards either pain, vibration, or a neutral visual stimulus. During painful and counter …