# Neural mechanisms underlying psychosocial contributions to ethnic group differences in pain

> **NIH NIH K22** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2021 · $221,034

## Abstract

Considerable evidence demonstrates that pain disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the
United States, especially African Americans (AAs), who experience frequent, severe and disabling chronic pain
compared to their non-Hispanic white (NHW) counterparts. These racial and ethnic disparities extend to many
chronic pain conditions, but are perhaps best documented in people with osteoarthritis (OA). Previous research
revealed that AAs with OA experience more frequent and severe clinical pain and disability and show a
quantitative sensory testing profile suggesting impaired pain inhibition and enhanced generalized pain facilitation
compared to NHWs. In addition, previous findings demonstrated higher pain catastrophizing (a tendency to
negatively evaluate one's ability to cope with pain and to respond to anticipated or actual pain in a heightened
negative cognitive and emotional manner) among AAs compared to NHWs. While multiple factors inevitably
contribute, cognitive and affective processes and ethnic group differences in central pain processing represent
potentially important determinants of greater clinical pain among African Americans. Despite its pervasive
negative effects, no neuroimaging study to date has experimentally manipulated pain catastrophizing and
measured cerebral activity during experimentally-induced pain to determine the neural mechanisms whereby
catastrophizing impacts pain responses. Moreover, the extent to which the influence of pain catastrophizing on
these central pathways contributes to ethnic group differences in the experience of pain remains unexplored.
Therefore, the overall goal for this mentored career development proposal (K22) is to elucidate the neural
mechanism involved in pain catastrophizing and its influence on pain processing in different ethnic groups.
Primary training goals for the current proposal are to: 1) develop a comprehensive knowledge base in
neuroimaging techniques, methodological designs, data acquisition, data analyses, and interpretation of
findings; 2) expand knowledge of advanced pain assessment skills including quantitative sensory testing and
clinical models of pain; 3) Obtain expertise in principles of experimental design and statistical methodology
utilized for biomedical research, including neuroimaging studies; and 4) enhance translational research skills to
function as an independent investigator. Study 1 (Phase I) will determine whether pain catastrophizing
contributes to ethnic group differences in pain-related brain function, clinical pain, and pain sensitivity among
AAs and NHWs with knee OA. Study 2 (Phase II) will characterize the impact of an anti-catastrophizing
manipulation on central pain processes and pain among AAs and NHWs with knee OA. The proposed career
development plan extends from the PI's prior work on pain catastrophizing and mechanisms of pain processing,
and will also provide the neuroimaging training and expertise to propel a promising young inves...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10143317
- **Project number:** 5K22NS102334-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Ellen L. Terry
- **Activity code:** K22 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $221,034
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-04-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10143317

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10143317, Neural mechanisms underlying psychosocial contributions to ethnic group differences in pain (5K22NS102334-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10143317. Licensed CC0.

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