title: Neural responses to a modified Stroop paradigm in patients with complex chronic musculoskeletal pain compared to matched controls: an experimental functional magnetic resonance imaging study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMSKP) is attentionally demanding, complex and multi-factorial; neuroimaging research in the population seen in pain clinics is sparse. A better understanding of the neural activity underlying attentional processes to pain related information compared to healthy controls may help inform diagnosis and management in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) compared brain responses in patients with CMSKP (n = 15) and healthy controls (n = 14) while completing a modified Stroop task using pain-related, positive-emotional, and neutral control words.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response times in the Stroop task were no different for CMSKP patients compared with controls, but patients were less accurate in their responses to all word types. BOLD fMRI responses during presentation of pain-related words suggested increases in neural activation in patients compared to controls in regions previously reported as being involved in pain perception and emotion: the anterior cingulate cortex, insula and primary and secondary somatosensory cortex. No fMRI differences were seen between groups in response to positive or control words.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using this modified Stroop tasks, specific differences were identified in brain activity between CMSKP patients and controls in response to pain-related information using fMRI. This provided evidence of differences in the way that pain-related information is processed in those with chronic complex musculoskeletal pain that were not detectable using the behavioural measures of speed and accuracy. The study may be helpful in gaining new insights into the impact of attention in those living with chronic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK. tayloram@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.|Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.|F. M. Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales, UK.|School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varnava
authors.affiliation: Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4YS, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Rhiannon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Bronllys Pain and Fatigue Management Centre, Powys, Brecon, LD3 0 LU, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Antony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wilkes
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Wise
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D057190:Stroop Test
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
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