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

Ng, B.W., *Nanavaty, N., Mathur, V.A. (2019). The influence of Latinx American identity on pain perception and treatment seeking. Journal of Pain Research, 12, 3025-3035. 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.558

This is the first experimental study of perception of the pain of Latinx Americans to include a powered sample of Latinx American participants.

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.