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Mood influences supraspinal pain processing separately from attention
Chantal Villemure1, M Catherine Bushnell
1Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. chantal.villemure1@mcgill.ca
Summary
Positive mood and attention independently modulate pain perception by engaging distinct neural circuits. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to differentiate the brain activity associated with mood- versus attention-based pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Pain Research
Background:
- Psychological factors like mood and attention influence pain perception.
- Previous research has not clearly separated the neural mechanisms of mood and attention in pain modulation.
- Distinct brain circuits may underlie emotional versus attentional pain regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct neurocircuitry of mood- and attention-based pain modulation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To independently manipulate mood and attention to assess their separate effects on pain perception and brain activity.
- To identify specific brain regions and networks involved in each type of psychological pain modulation.
Main Methods:
- Used fMRI to examine brain activity during heat pain stimulation.
- Independently manipulated mood (using pleasant/unpleasant odors) and attention direction.
- Analyzed correlations between brain activity in specific regions (e.g., ACC, aIC, LinfF, SPP) and modulation of pain perception.
Main Results:
- Positive mood induction (via pleasant odors) decreased pain unpleasantness and reduced activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial thalamus, and somatosensory cortices.
- Attentional modulation effects were less pronounced, with some activity changes in the anterior insular cortex (aIC).
- Specific brain regions correlated with either mood (LinfF) or attention (SPP, entorhinal cortex) modulation, and their network interactions differed.
Conclusions:
- Mood-related pain modulation involves distinct neural circuits, including the ACC and LinfF.
- Attention-related pain modulation engages different circuits, potentially involving the SPP and aIC.
- These findings suggest separable neuromodulatory systems for emotional and attentional control of pain.
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