Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Brain Imaging01:14

Brain Imaging

Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans),  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),  functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy01:25

Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effects and costs of a group-based educational intervention to reduce opioid use in people with chronic pain: I-WOTCH RCT.

Health technology assessment (Winchester, England)·2026
Same author

Temporal dynamics of mental defeat in chronic pain: a longitudinal network analysis of ecological momentary assessment data.

Pain·2026
Same author

Pharmacist Peer-Led Teaching Enhances Medical Undergraduate Prescribing: A Mixed-Methods Study.

The clinical teacher·2025
Same author

Mental Defeat Predicts Increased Suicide Risk in Chronic Pain: A 12-Month Prospective Study.

European journal of pain (London, England)·2025
Same author

Use of downstream stress imaging tests for risk stratification of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain and low HEART score.

Open heart·2024
Same author

Mental Defeat and Suicidality in Chronic Pain: A Prospective Analysis.

The journal of pain·2023
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

Opioids and brain imaging.

Shyam Balasubramanian1, Patricia Morley-Forster, Yves Bureau

  • 1Interdisciplinary Pain Program, Schulich School of Medicine, St. Joseph's Health Care London, Ontario, Canada.

Journal of Opioid Management
|February 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary

New imaging techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are revolutionizing the study of pain processing. These methods reveal how the brain

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Research
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • The gate-control theory highlights spinal pain processing, but supraspinal mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Cognitive and affective factors significantly influence pain perception.
  • In vivo assessment of the central nervous system's pain pathways has been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the biological mechanisms of supraspinal pain processing.
  • To detail the principles and applications of advanced imaging techniques in pain research.
  • To elucidate the role of the central opioidergic system in pain modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for assessing brain activity.
  • Employing positron emission tomography (PET) for visualizing neurochemical pathways.

More Related Videos

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence
09:54

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Published on: March 8, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence
09:54

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Published on: March 8, 2020

  • Reviewing existing literature on neuroimaging in pain studies.

    • Main Results:

    • fMRI and PET enable in vivo assessment of the central opioidergic system.
    • These techniques identify the locations of opioidergic pathways.
    • Neuroimaging elucidates the neuromodulatory influence on pain and related conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • fMRI and PET are crucial for understanding pain processing and the opioidergic system.
    • These imaging modalities are vital for studying placebo effects and drug dependence.
    • Advanced imaging offers potential for evaluating new analgesic drugs.