From U Oxford: Imaging pain: a potent means for investigating pain mechanisms in patients

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23794647

Br J Anaesth. 2013 Jul;111(1):64-72. doi: 10.1093/bja/aet174.

Imaging pain: a potent means for investigating pain mechanisms in patients.

Lee MC, Tracey I.

Source

Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics and Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford, Oxford , UK.

Abstract

Summary Chronic pain is a state of physical suffering strongly associated with feelings of anxiety, depression and despair. Disease pathophysiology, psychological state, and social milieu can influence chronic pain, but can be difficult to diagnose based solely on clinical presentation. Here, we review brain neuroimaging research that is shaping our understanding of pain mechanisms, and consider how such knowledge might lead to useful diagnostic tools for the management of persistent pain in individual patients.