Background and Aims:
Information processing and executive functions in the brain are known to influence pain processing. However, to date the characteristics of their predictive relationship with pain have not been evaluated. To that aim, we tested the effect of basic attention and stimulus evaluation ,via the P300 oddball task amplitude, and executive function, via the trial making test (TMT) part B, on the parameters of inhibitory pain modulation. 
Methods: 
The P300 amplitude, obtained by auditory oddball task, and TMT-B scores were evaluated in 35 young healthy males. All then underwent conditioned pain modulation (CPM) assessment with 30-sec long tonic heat (test stimulus, Ts) conditioned by ice water immersion. 

Results: 
In a regression model that includes P300 amplitudes and TMT-B scores, the two together predict the dynamic changes along the pain scores of standalone Ts (pmodel=0.035; pP300=0.018; pTMT=0.044) and conditioned Ts (pmodel=0.016; pP300=0.022; pTMT=0.009) albeit in opposite directions. Wherein higher P300 amplitude predicts pain adaptation and lower conditioned Ts pain, and better TMT-B performance predicts sensitization and higher conditioned Ts pain. 
Conclusion:
Neurocognitive variables relate to pain modulation. Joining of P300-based attentional capabilities and TMT B-based executive functions into one model seems to represent the frontal-parietal network communication in pain evaluation. A possible explanation for the opposing directions of the cognitive-pain relationships could be the ability to switch attention away from pain in subjects with better stimulus evaluation, reducing their need to activate pain inhibition in the context of experimental pain in subjects with high executive functioning.

GENERALIZED INFORMATION PROCESSING AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION PREDICTS PAIN MODULATION IN HEALTHY MALES