title: The periaqueductal gray and descending pain modulation: why should we study them and what role do they play in chronic pain?
abstract: In this Neuro Forum we discuss the significance of a recent study by Yu et al. (Neuroimage Clin 6: 100-108, 2014). The authors examined functional connectivity of a key node of the descending pain modulation pathway, the periaqueductal gray (PAG), in chronic back pain patients. Altered PAG connectivity to pain-related regions was found; we place results within the context of recent literature and emphasize the importance of understanding the descending component of pain in pain research.
authors: Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada khemingt@uhnres.utoronto.ca.
authors: Kasey S
authors: KS
authors: Hemington
authors: Toronto Western Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; and.
authors: Marie-Andrée
authors: MA
authors: Coulombe
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000378:metabolism*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: chronic low back pain; descending pain modulation; periaqueductal gray; resting-state fMRI