Which of the following are evoked behavioral measures of pain?

• A. Nociceptive thresholds
• B. Conditioned avoidance
• C. Conditioned preferences
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Evoked behavioral measures of pain are responses that are triggered by a painful stimulus or by learning processes tied to pain. Nociceptive thresholds fit here because they measure the smallest stimulus that reliably produces a pain-related response, giving a direct readout of pain sensitivity.

Conditioned avoidance also qualifies as evoked because the animal learns to avoid a place or cue after it has been paired with pain, and this avoidance is expressed when the animal encounters that context again.

Conditioned preferences (such as conditioned place preference in the context of analgesia) are used because the animal’s preference for a environment associated with pain relief reflects the motivational value of that relief, again an evoked response tied to the pain experience and its alleviation.

Since all three are legitimate evoked behavioral measures of pain, the best answer is all of the above.