Research Interests

Dr. Mathur’s work focuses on understanding the sources of disparities in pain, and the specific mechanisms by which social and cultural factors alter pain experience and pain physiology. Her research targets the problem of pain disparities from two directions – investigating the different ways social factors may influence one’s own pain, and also alter pain perception and empathy for others. To tackle these problems, her lab utilizes behavioral, psychophysical, and neuroimaging methodologies. In addition to her work on pain disparities, Dr. Mathur is also interested in individual differences in chronic pain and pain modulation, cross-cultural examinations of pain and empathy, and social environmental effects on health broadly defined.

Recent Publications

Petre, B., Tetreault, P., Mathur, V.A., Schurgin, M., Chiao, J., Huang, L., Apkarian, A.V. (2017). A central mechanism enhances pain perception of noxious thermal stimulus changes. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 3894.

Speed, T.J., Mathur, V.A., Hand, M., Christensen, B., Sponseller, P.D., Williams, K.A., Campbell, C.M. (2016). Characterization of pain, disability, and psychological burden in Marfan syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. 9999A:1–9.

Mathur, V.A., Kiley, K.B., Pejsa, M., Haywood, C., Bediako, S., Lanzkron, S., Buenaver, L.F., Edwards, R.R., Haythornthwaite, J.A., Campbell, C.M. (2016). Multiple-levels of suffering: Discrimination in health care settings is associated with greater laboratory pain sensitivity in sickle cell disease. Clinical Journal of Pain, 32(12), 1076-1085.

Mathur, V.A., Kiley, K.B., Carroll, C.P., Edwards, R.R., Lanzkron, S., Haythornthwaite, J.A., Campbell, C.M. (2016). Disease related, non-disease related, and situational catastrophizing in sickle cell disease and its relationship with pain. Journal of Pain, 17(11), 1227-1236.

 Mathur, V.A., Moayedi, M., Keaser, M.L., Khan, S.A., Hubbard, C.S., Goyal, M., Seminowicz, D.A. (2016). High frequency migraine is associated with lower acute pain sensitivity and abnormal insula activity related to migraine pain intensity, attack frequency, and pain catastrophizing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 10, 489.

Mathur, V.A., Cheon B.K., Harada, T., Scimeca, J., Chiao, J.Y. (2016). Overlapping neural response to the pain or harm of people, animals, and nature. Neuropsychologia, 81, 265-273.