New Trend of Pain Study by Brain Imaging Devices.
10.5124/jkma.2009.52.2.182
- Author:
Sun Joon BAI
1
;
Zang Hee CHO
;
Bae Hwan LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pain;
Brain imaging devices;
Positron emission tomography;
Functiolnal magnetic resonance imaging
- MeSH:
Amygdala;
Brain;
Gyrus Cinguli;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Neuroimaging;
Neurophysiology;
Positron-Emission Tomography;
Thalamus
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2009;52(2):182-188
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The study of pain has recently received much attention, especially in understanding its neurophysiology by using new brain imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), both of which allow us to visualize brain function in vivo. Also the new brain imaging devices allow us to evaluate the patients pain status and plan to treat patients objectively. Functional activation of brain regions are thought to be reflected by increases in the regional cerebral blood flow in the brain imaging studies. Regional cerebral blood flow increases to noxious stimuli are observed in second somatic (SII) and insular regions and in the anterior cingulate cortex and with slightly less consistency in the first somatic area (S1), motor area, supplementary motor area, prefrontal area, amygdala and contralateral thalamus. These data suggest that pain has multidimensions such as sensory-discrimitive, motivational-affective and cognitive-evaluative.
