Presentation: Cognitive and sensory anomalies in chronic pain

Abstract: In this talk I will give an overview of my research evaluating cognitive and sensory anomalies experienced by people with a rare and challenging condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). CRPS typically arises in a limb following a tissue insult or injury, however the signs and symptoms are disproportionate to those what would be expected from the inciting event. My research has sought to understand crossmodal sensitivity in people with CRPS, as well as changes they show to spatial attention, body representation, and sensorimotor control. Overall, there is substantial evidence that CRPS can be accompanied by central changes, which could inform treatment, however high inter-individual variability is a challenge to research on this condition.

Biography: Dr Janet Bultitude graduated from the ANU in 2004 with a combined Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Honours and Bachelor of Science degree. She then moved to the UK where she complete a PhD at Bangor University and held positions at Oxford University, INSERM (France), and the University of Bath. Her research has investigated sensation, motor function, and cognition (especially attention and body representation) in neurologically healthy participants and people with clinical conditions including stroke, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Through her work she aims to better understand the symptoms and experiences of people with clinical conditions, and to develop robust ways to measure and treat cognitive changes.