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Cited by 502Pain Management and TreatmentPain Mechanisms and TreatmentsTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in acute and chronic pain

Open access
Seminowicz, David A., Moayedi, Massieh·2017·The Journal of Pain
DOI 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.03.008PMC PMC5581265
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Abstract

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a functionally and structurally heterogeneous region and a key node of several brain networks, implicated in cognitive, affective, and sensory processing. As such, the DLPFC is commonly activated in experimental pain studies, and shows abnormally increased function in chronic pain populations. Furthermore, several studies have shown that some chronic pains are associated with decreased left DLPFC gray matter and that successful interventions can reverse this structural abnormality. In addition, studies have indicated that noninvasive stimulation of the left DLPFC effectively treats some chronic pains. In this article, we review the neuroimaging literature regarding the role of the DLPFC and its potential as a therapeutic target for chronic pain conditions, including studies showing the involvement of the DLPFC in encoding and modulating acute pain and studies demonstrating the reversal of DLPFC functional and structural abnormalities after successful interventions for chronic pain. We also review studies of noninvasive brain stimulation of the DLPFC showing acute pain modulation and some effectiveness as a treatment for certain chronic pain conditions. We further discuss the network architecture of the DLPFC, and postulate mechanisms by which DLPFC stimulation alleviates chronic pain. Future work testing these mechanisms will allow for more effective therapies.Perspective The structure and function of the DLPFC is abnormal in some chronic pain conditions. Upon successful resolution of pain, these abnormalities are reversed. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and the role of this region can lead to the development of an effective therapeutic target for some chronic pain conditions.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.03.008

Cites

113 of 113 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Claims the paper makes

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  • Premisecitation

    A set of brain regions is consistently activated in response to experimental nociceptive stimulation.

    “there is a set of brain regions that are consistently activated in response to experimental nociceptive stimulation25, 57”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
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      Not checked in the free run.

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  • Premisecitation

    No single brain region or network has been shown to be specific and sufficient for nociceptive processing and pain modulation.

    “there has yet to be a single brain region or network shown to be specific and sufficient for nociceptive processing and pain modulation42, 50, 83”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
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  • Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex shows abnormally increased function in chronic pain populations.

    “shows abnormally increased function in chronic pain populations”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
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  • Premisecitation

    Some chronic pain conditions are associated with decreased left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gray matter compared with healthy subjects.

    “some chronic pains are associated with decreased left DLPFC gray matter”
    • Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain
      “patients with chronic back pain3, 79, 85, 92, migraine44, 77, 102, trigeminal neuropathic pain22, hypnic headache37, chronic post-traumatic headache65, hip osteoarthritis78, 79, complex regional pain syndrome26 have reduced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) gray matter, compared to healthy subjects”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] Apkarian, 2004, Chronic back pain is associated with decreased prefrontal and thalamic gray matter density, J Neurosci source

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    • cites [79] Rodriguez-Raecke, 2013, Structural brain changes in chronic pain reflect probably neither damage nor atrophy, PLoS One source

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  • Premisecitation

    Non-invasive stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex effectively treats some chronic pain conditions.

    “non-invasive stimulation of the left DLPFC effectively treats some chronic pains”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [14] Brighina, 2004, rTMS of the prefrontal cortex in the treatment of chronic migraine: A pilot study, J Neurol Sci source

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    • cites [34] Graff-Guerrero, 2005, Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increases tolerance to human experimental pain, Brain Res Cogn Brain Res source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 14
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    Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is generally associated with maintenance and regulation of top-down modulation and with driving appropriate behavioral responses.

    “it is generally associated with maintenance and regulation of top-down modulation, and driving appropriate behavioral responses64, 82”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [64] Obermann, 2009, Gray matter changes related to chronic posttraumatic headache, Neurology source

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    • cites [82] Sallet, 2013, The organization of dorsal frontal cortex in humans and macaques, J Neurosci source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The pain experience is a construct of the central nervous system and an emergent property of network activity in the brain.

    “The pain experience is a construct of the central nervous system (CNS) – an emergent property of network activity in the brain2, 23, 48”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [2] Apkarian, 2015, Pain: Acute and chronic

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    • cites [23] Davis, 2013, Central mechanisms of pain revealed through functional and structural MRI, J Neuroimmune Pharmacol source

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    • cites [48] Kucyi, 2015, The dynamic pain connectome, Trends Neurosci source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Chronic pain is thought to be a central nervous system disorder.

    “chronic pain is thought to be a CNS disorder98”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [98] Tracey, 2009, How neuroimaging studies have challenged us to rethink: Is chronic pain a disease?, J Pain source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is a functionally and structurally heterogeneous brain region.

    “The DLPFC is a large and functionally heterogeneous brain region31”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [31] Glasser, 2016, A multi-modal parcellation of human cerebral cortex, Nature source

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    Premisereasoning

    There is some convergence across different chronic pain disorders in the pattern of gray matter abnormalities, although the pattern is not necessarily consistent across all disorders.

    “Although the pattern of gray matter abnormalities is not necessarily consistent across all chronic pain disorders, there appears to be some level of convergence across different chronic pain disorders.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Some of the brain regions consistently activated by nociceptive stimulation also show abnormal structure and function in chronic pain disorders, suggesting they may be involved in nociceptive processing and/or pain modulation.

    “Some of these regions also exhibit abnormal structure and function in chronic pain disorders, suggesting that they may be implicated in nociceptive processing and/or pain modulation2, 16, 23”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [2] Apkarian, 2015, Pain: Acute and chronic

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [16] Bushnell, 2013, Cognitive and emotional control of pain and its disruption in chronic pain, Nat Rev Neurosci source

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    • cites [23] Davis, 2013, Central mechanisms of pain revealed through functional and structural MRI, J Neuroimmune Pharmacol source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is substantially expanded in humans compared with other primates, suggesting a role in complex cognitive processes.

    “Compared to other primates, the DLPFC is substantially expanded in humans, suggesting a role in complex cognitive processes62, 73”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [62] Nee, 2016, The hierarchical organization of the lateral prefrontal cortex, eLife source

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    • cites [73] Rahnev, 2016, Causal evidence for frontal cortex organization for perceptual decision making, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

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    Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex shows activation in response to nociceptive stimuli in healthy subjects, or differential activation between chronic pain patients and controls.

    “Specifically, it shows activation in response to nociceptive stimuli in healthy subjects, or shows differential activation between chronic pain patients and controls.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [56] Lorenz, 2003, Keeping pain out of mind: The role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in pain modulation, Brain source

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    • cites [10] Bornhovd, 2002, Painful stimuli evoke different stimulus-response functions in the amygdala, prefrontal, insula and somatosensory cortex: A single-trial fMRI study, Brain source

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    • cites [41] Iadarola, 1998, Neural activation during acute capsaicin-evoked pain and allodynia assessed with PET, Brain source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in cognitive processes such as attention, value encoding, working memory, creativity, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

    “it has also been shown to be involved in cognitive processes18, 43, 62, 96, such as attention6, 104–106, value encoding11, 40, 46, 53, 95, working memory5, creativity52, decision-making 71, 73, and emotional regulation15, 27, 29, 67, 99”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [18] Cieslik, 2013, Is there “one” DLPFC in cognitive action control? Evidence for heterogeneity from co-activation-based parcellation, Cereb Cortex source

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    • cites [43] Jeon, 2015, Degree of automaticity and the prefrontal cortex, Trends Cogn Sci source

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    • cites [62] Nee, 2016, The hierarchical organization of the lateral prefrontal cortex, eLife source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When subjects perform a cognitive task while receiving a painful stimulus, there is increased activity in the ventrolateral part of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and deactivation of a more dorsomedial part associated with the default mode network.

    “when subjects performed a cognitive task while they received a painful stimulus, there was increased activity of in the ventrolateral part of the DLPFC, and deactivation of a more dorsomedial part of DLPFC that is associated with the DMN.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [89] Seminowicz, 2007, Pain enhances functional connectivity of a brain network evoked by performance of a cognitive task, J Neurophysiol source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex connectivity can help direct patients into different health care streams and effectively allocate resources.

    “Furthermore, DLPFC connectivity can help direct patients into different health care streams and effectively allocate these resources.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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    Premisecitation

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is a key node of at least three brain networks: it sits between the extrinsic mode network and default mode network, and is a key node in the cognitive control network.

    “the DLPFC is a key node of at least three brain networks: it sits between the interface of the extrinsic mode network (EMN)39 and default mode network (DMN)28, 74, and it is a key node in the cognitive control network19”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [39] Hugdahl, 2015, On the existence of a generalized non-specific task-dependent network, Front Hum Neurosci source

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    • cites [28] Fox, 2005, The human brain is intrinsically organized into dynamic, anticorrelated functional networks, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

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    • cites [74] Raichle, 2001, A default mode of brain function, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

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    Premisecitation

    The extrinsic mode network is a generalized network that allocates cognitive resources to any cognitive task or sensory processing of the external milieu.

    “The EMN is thought to be a generalized network allocating cognitive resources to any cognitive task or sensory processing of the external milieu.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [39] Hugdahl, 2015, On the existence of a generalized non-specific task-dependent network, Front Hum Neurosci source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex suppresses insula and thalamus activity and reduces pain sensitization associated with uncontrollable pain.

    “In other words, the DLPFC suppressed insula and thalamus activity and reduced pain sensitization associated with uncontrollable pain.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The default mode network is active in the absence of any overt stimulus or task and is related to monitoring of the internal milieu and introspection.

    “The DMN, on the other hand, is active in the absence of any overt stimulus or task, and is thought to be related to monitoring of the internal milieu and introspection.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [28] Fox, 2005, The human brain is intrinsically organized into dynamic, anticorrelated functional networks, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [74] Raichle, 2001, A default mode of brain function, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Normalization of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function could reflect recovery of cognitive ability, potentially including cognitive coping that could help reduce pain.

    “These studies suggest that normalization of the left DLPFC function could reflect recovery of cognitive ability, potentially including cognitive coping that could help reduce pain.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The gray matter reductions observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are feasibly related to neuronal loss, although other cellular and molecular mechanisms are not precluded.

    “Therefore, it is feasible that the gray matter reductions observed are related to neuronal loss in the DLPFC, although that does not preclude other potential cellular and molecular mechanisms23, 72”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [23] Davis, 2013, Central mechanisms of pain revealed through functional and structural MRI, J Neuroimmune Pharmacol source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [72] Pomares, 2017, Histological underpinnings of grey matter changes in fibromyalgia investigated using multimodal brain imaging, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cognitive control can reduce pain and has in part been attributed to a brain network comprising prefrontal regions including dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and brainstem regions such as periaqueductal gray and rostral ventral medulla.

    “Cognitive control can reduce pain and has in part been attributed to a brain network comprising prefrontal regions including DLPFC, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the anterior insula, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and brainstem regions, such as the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the rostral ventral medulla7”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Bingel, 2007, Imaging pain modulation in health and disease, Curr Opin Neurol source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Chronic low back pain patients showed a lack of deactivation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex while performing a cognitive task, which resolved following effective treatment.

    “Chronic low back patients showed a lack of deactivation of DLPFC while performing a cognitive task, which resolved following effective treatment92”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [92] Seminowicz, 2011, Effective treatment of chronic low back pain in humans reverses abnormal brain anatomy and function, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Pain-related activity within bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is negatively correlated with pain catastrophizing, indicating a role in pain coping.

    “pain-related activity within the bilateral DLPFC is negatively correlated with pain catastrophizing, a measure of maladaptive pain cognitions and a sense of uncontrollability, indicating a role of DLPFC in pain coping88”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [88] Seminowicz, 2006, Cortical responses to pain in healthy individuals depends on pain catastrophizing, Pain source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Given the evidence that dorsolateral prefrontal cortex structure and function reflect chronic pain states and that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is implicated in pain regulation, it is feasible that this brain region could serve as a therapeutic target.

    “Given the compelling evidence that DLPFC structure and function reflect chronic pain states, and that the DLPFC is implicated in pain regulation, it is feasible that this brain region could potentially serve as a therapeutic target.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Transcranial direct current stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in healthy participants increases pain tolerance and improves performance on a cognitive task.

    “tDCS – of the left DLPFC in healthy participants has also been shown to increase pain tolerance and improve performance on a cognitive task, consistent with the DLPFC’s role in cognitive and pain modulatory processes61”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [61] Mylius, 2012, Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain perception and working memory, Eur J Pain source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Other studies reported normalized gray matter volume in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex following total knee replacement, and normalized left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gray matter one year after onset of post-traumatic headache, which corresponded with resolution of headache pain.

    “Other studies reported normalized GMV in right DLPFC following total knee replacement78, and normalized left DLPFC GMV one year after onset of post-traumatic headache, which corresponded with a resolution of headache pain65”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [78] Rodriguez-Raecke, 2009, Brain gray matter decrease in chronic pain is the consequence and not the cause of pain, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [65] Obermann, 2013, Gray matter volume reduction reflects chronic pain in trigeminal neuralgia, Neuroimage source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    This normalization of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gray matter correlated with a reduction in clinical pain intensity and reduced disability.

    “This normalization of DLPFC gray matter correlated with a reduction in clinical pain intensity and reduced disability.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [92] Seminowicz, 2011, Effective treatment of chronic low back pain in humans reverses abnormal brain anatomy and function, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The lack of specificity of transcranial direct current stimulation means it stimulates large swathes of the cortex, so the same dorsolateral prefrontal cortex region may not be responsible for both pain and cognitive effects.

    “Notably this does not suggest that the same region of the DLPFC is responsible for both functions, but rather the lack of specificity of tDCS – it stimulates large swathes of the cortex.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    During nociceptive stimulation, mindfulness meditation produced significant deactivation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and an increase in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex activation, compared with sham meditation and placebo pain modulation.

    “This study reported a significant deactivation of the DLPFC during nociceptive stimulation and an increase in vlPFC and OFC activation, compared to sham meditation and placebo pain modulation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [112] Zeidan, 2015, Mindfulness meditation-based pain relief employs different neural mechanisms than placebo and sham mindfulness meditation-induced analgesia, J Neurosci source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The effects of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex stimulation on chronic pain could be mediated by descending modulatory opioidergic systems, or effects on cognitive or affective aspects of the pain experience, or a combination.

    “These effects could be mediated by descending modulatory (opioidergic) systems, or effects on cognitive or affective aspects of the pain experience, or a combination of these mechanisms.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Several studies have shown the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to be an excellent therapeutic target for managing and treating major depressive disorder.

    “several studies have shown the DLPFC to be an excellent therapeutic target for managing and treating major depressive disorder24”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [24] Downar, 2012, New targets for rTMS in depression: A review of convergent evidence, Brain Stimul source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Although the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has many functions and is not pain-specific, imaging and brain stimulation can be used to tap its regulatory effects to modulate and manage chronic pain.

    “In sum, although the DLPFC has many functions, and is by no means pain-specific, imaging and brain stimulation can be used to tap its regulatory effects to modulate and manage chronic pain.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    It is possible that studies reporting effective chronic pain treatment by dorsolateral prefrontal cortex stimulation could be related by treating co-morbidities, i.e., treating depression, which then alleviates pain.

    “It is therefore possible that studies that have reported effective chronic pain treatment by DLPFC stimulation could be related by treating co-morbidities – i.e., these treatments could be treating depression, which then alleviates pain.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Alternatively, both depression and chronic pain may share some common neural substrates, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

    “Alternatively, both depression and chronic pain may share some common neural substrates, such as the DLPFC.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Changes observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may not be directly related to pain, but may be secondary to the resolution of chronic pain.

    “Another important consideration is that the changes observed in the DLPFC may not be directly related to pain, but may be secondary to the resolution of chronic pain.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A study of effective pain management with cognitive behavioral training in a mixed chronic pain population reported increased left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gray matter volume, which correlated with reduction in pain catastrophizing.

    “Another study investigating the neural underpinnings of effective pain management with cognitive behavioral training in a mixed chronic pain population reported increased left DLPFC GMV, which correlated with reduction in pain catastrophizing91”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [91] Seminowicz, 2013, Cognitive-behavioral therapy increases prefrontal cortex gray matter in patients with chronic pain, J Pain source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The same study found that increases in gray matter were associated with an increase of a proxy index of neurons, suggesting neural growth.

    “However, the same study found that increases in gray matter were associated with an increase of a proxy index of neurons, suggesting neural growth.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [72] Pomares, 2017, Histological underpinnings of grey matter changes in fibromyalgia investigated using multimodal brain imaging, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are few effective treatments for chronic pain.

    “Despite many decades of pain research, there are few effective treatments for chronic pain.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Pain is a multidimensional experience comprising sensory, emotional, cognitive, and motivational components.

    “pain is a multidimensional experience, comprised of sensory, emotional, cognitive and motivational components.”
2 of 2

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Authors
Seminowicz, D. A., & Moayedi, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Seminowicz, David A.
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Pain
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2017-09
Volume
18
Issue
9
Pages
1027-1035
ISSN
1526-5900 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jpain.2017.03.008
PMC
PMC5581265
OpenAlex
W2604834320
Cited by
502
References
113
Citations by year
2026: 55 · 2025: 84 · 2024: 69 · 2023: 56 · 2022: 68 · 2021: 66 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 2
FWCI
6.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Pain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (R21DE023964)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
Keywords
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, chronic pain, acute pain, pain modulation, gray matter reduction, non-invasive brain stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, pain resolution, therapeutic target
MeSH terms
Humans, Prefrontal Cortex, Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Acute Pain, Neuroimaging

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