Cited by 1,122Pain Mechanisms and TreatmentsPain Management and Opioid UseMusculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

The effect of pain on cognitive function: A review of clinical and preclinical research

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Moriarty, Orla, McGuire, Brian E., Finn, David P.·2011·Progress in Neurobiology

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is commonly associated with the pain experience. This impairment represents a major obstacle to daily activities and rehabilitation, especially in the chronic pain population. Here we review clinical and preclinical studies that have investigated pain-related alterations in cognition. These include impaired attentional, executive and general cognitive functioning. We describe the anatomical, neurochemical and molecular substrates common to both cognitive processing and supraspinal pain processing, and present the evidence for their involvement in pain-related cognitive impairment. We also examine the added complexity of cognitive impairment caused by analgesic medications and how this can further impact on morbidity in chronic pain patients. The need for a better understanding of the mechanisms of both pain-induced and treatment-related cognitive impairment is highlighted. Further research in this area will aid our understanding of patient symptoms and their underlying pathophysiology, ultimately leading to increased provision of guided therapy.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2011.01.002

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  • Physical pain comes at a price in the form of reduced executive functioning.

    “but it comes at a price in the form of reduced executive functioning (Baker et al. 2016; Eccleston and Crombez 1999; Moriarty, McGuire, and Finn 2011).”

    From Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen‐State Interactions (2020) · cites this paper as Moriarty, McGuire, and Finn 2011

    Section 2.4 reports that executive-type functions are affected in many chronic-pain patients, supporting the core association. But it also describes studies finding no deficit, and Section 2.5 says the direct effect of pain on cognition is difficult to establish. The claim presents reduced executive functioning as a general, definite cost of physical pain, which goes beyond those findings. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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  • Chronic pain is associated with accelerated loss of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex, the neural center of executive functioning.

    “For instance, brain morphology studies have shown chronic pain to be associated with accelerated loss of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex, meaning that the brain region, which is considered the neural center of executive functioning, physically shrinks in response to chronic pain (Apkarian et al. 2004; Moriarty, McGuire, and Finn 2011).”

    From Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen‐State Interactions (2020) · cites this paper as Moriarty, McGuire, and Finn 2011

    Section 3.1.2 (page not available) reports faster overall grey-matter loss in chronic-pain patients, reduced dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volume, and the PFC’s role in executive functioning. It does not establish that loss is accelerated specifically in the PFC or that chronic pain causes that region to shrink, as the citing sentence suggests. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The very experience of having CP, the associated uncertainty, and the potential drain of pain on cognitive resources are together likely to further muddy the process of threat appraisal and coping skills development.

    “However, we posit that the very experience of having CP, the associated uncertainty, and the potential drain of pain on cognitive resources [41], are together likely to further muddy the process of threat appraisal and coping skills development.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [203]203. Regualation, and Chronic Pain: A Review. Ann Behav Med 37, 173-183.

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Authors
Moriarty, O., McGuire, B. E., & Finn, D. P.
Affiliations
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
Corresponding author
Finn, David P.
Venue
Progress in Neurobiology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2011-03
Volume
93
Issue
3
Pages
385-404
ISSN
0301-0082 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2098284778
Cited by
1,122
References
257
Citations by year
2026: 72 · 2025: 111 · 2024: 102 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 110 · 2020: 86 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 78 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 72 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 21
FWCI
26.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Progress in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (acceptedVersion)
  • ARAN (University of Galway Research Repository) (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • University of Galway Research Repository (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • ARAN (University of Galway Research Repository) (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Repository UCD (University College Dublin) (cc-by)
Funders
University College London
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Opioid Use
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Keywords
chronic pain, attention, executive function, analgesic side effects, supraspinal pain processing, rehabilitation
MeSH terms
Analgesics, Animals, Brain, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Pain

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