Patients who have negative expectations about the outcome of a surgical procedure may experience increased postoperative pain.This best illustrates the importance of
A) subliminal stimulation.
B) sensory adaptation.
C) difference thresholds.
D) top-down processing.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The concept of negative expectations affecting postoperative pain can be explained through top-down processing, which refers to how our expectations, beliefs, and context can influence our perception of incoming stimuli. In this case, if a patient expects to experience a lot of pain after surgery, their brain may "interpret" sensory signals as more painful than they actually are, leading to increased perception of pain. The other answer choices do not accurately explain this phenomenon.

Patients Who Have Negative Expectations About the Outcome of a Surgical