Anterior insular volume decrease is associated with dysfunction of the reward system in patients with chronic pain

ConclusionsDecreased gray matter volumes of those core regions for affective processing of pain might be a common cerebral feature shared by, at least some of, different aetiologies of chronic pain. Dysfunctional network between the anterior insular cortex and the nucleus accumbens might reflect affective and motivational disability involved in chronic pain. Such anatomical and functional profiles could potentially be part of a cerebral signature for chronification of pain.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Source: European Journal of Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research