Visualizing the complex brain dynamics of chronic pain.
Chronic pain is now recognized as a disease state that involves changes in brain function. This concept is reinforced by data that document structural and morphological remapping of brain circuitry under conditions of chronic pain. Evidence for aberrant neurophysiology in the brain further confirms neuroplasticity at cellular and molecular levels. Proper detection of pain-induced changes using emerging non-invasive and cost-effective technologies, such as analytical electroencephalography methods, could yield objective diagnostic measures and may guide therapeutic interventions targeting the brain for effective management of chronic pain.
Department of Neuroscience, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02903, USA. carl_saab@brown.edu
Carl
C
Saab
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology