Functional imaging and pain: Behavior, perception, and modulation

Time-dependent increases of local metabolic or blood flow rates have been described in spinal cord and brain during acute and chronic pain states in experimental animals, in parallel with changes of different behavioral endpoints of pain and hyperalgesia. In healthy human volunteers, pain intensity-related hemodynamic changes have been identified in a widespread, bilateral brain system including parietal, insular, cingulate, and frontal cortical areas, as well as thalamus, amygdala, and midbrain. Specific patterns of activity may characterize hyperalgesic states and some chronic pain conditions. Forebrain nociceptive systems are under inhibitory control by endogenous opioids and can be affected by acute administration of mu-opioid receptor agonists. Anticipation of pain may in itself induce changes in brain nociceptive networks. Moreover, pain-related cortical activity can be modulated by hypnotic suggestions, focusing or diverting attention, and placebo. These findings begin to disclose the spatio-temporal dynamics of brain networks underlying pain perception and modulation.