Neuroscience of Pain, Stress, and Emotion

Professor of Biological Psychology and Depatment Chair of Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Dr. Flaten’s reserach focuses on biological psychology, psychology of learning, behavioral medicine, and pain. He serves as a board member for European Psychologist and European Journal of Behavior Analysis and served as Chair for the Organizing Committee of the International Conference on Imaging in Neuroscience 2007-2009. Dr. Flaten chaired the 2011 symposium on placebo and pain at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting. Professor of Behavioral Medicine and holder of the Max & Mary La Due Pickworth Chair at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. al’Absi is the founding director of the Duluth Medical Research Institute. He is also the Course Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Medical School, has a joint appointment as a Professor and a graduate faculty at the Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Family Medicine, and the Integrated Biological Sciences Program. Professor al’Absi directs a research program focusing on the neurobiology of stress.

Part 1: Introduction and Background on Pain and Stress 1. Neuroscience of Pain and Emotion 2. Neuroscience of Stress 3. Emotions and Pain 4. Sex Differences in Pain and Stress

Part 2: Psychological Processes Related to Pain and Stress 5. Pain and the Placebo Effect 6. Nocebo and Pain 7. The Neuroscience of Pain and Fear 8. Cognitive Factors in Pain

Part 3: Clinical Implications 9. Chronic Pain and Depression: Vulnerability and Resilience 10. Addiction, Pain, and Stress Response 11. Pain and Hypertension 12. Chronic Pain and Fatigue 13. Conclusion and Future Directions