Anticipatory brainstem activity predicts neural processing of pain in humans.

Journal article

Previous neuroimaging studies have shown brain activity during not only the application of noxious stimuli, but also prior to stimulation. The functional significance of the anticipatory response, however, has yet to be explored. Two theoretical responses involve either a decrease or an increase in sensitivity of the nociceptive system. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, brainstem responses during anticipation and processing of thermal noxious stimuli were investigated. ...

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Authors: Fairhurst, M; Wiech, K; Dunckley, P; Tracey, I

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Pain
• Volume: 128
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 101-110
• Publication date: 2007-03-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.001
• EISSN: 1872-6623
• ISSN: 0304-3959
• Language: English
• Keywords: Brain Stem; Cues; Male; Brain Mapping; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Pain; Models, Neurological; Cognition; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; Pain Threshold; Humans; Adult