title: Structural plasticity and reorganisation in chronic pain.
abstract: Chronic pain is not simply a temporal continuum of acute pain. Studies on functional plasticity in neural circuits of pain have provided mechanistic insights and linked various modulatory factors to a change in perception and behaviour. However, plasticity also occurs in the context of structural remodelling and reorganisation of synapses, cells and circuits, potentially contributing to the long-term nature of chronic pain. This Review discusses maladaptive structural plasticity in neural circuits of pain, spanning multiple anatomical and spatial scales in animal models and human patients, and addresses key questions on structure-function relationships.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University.|Excellence Cluster 'Cellular Networks' Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, and Department of Psychology, University of Mannheim, J 5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.|Excellence Cluster 'Cellular Networks' Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Herta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*