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Published on: January 21, 2017
Dissociating anticipation from perception: Acute pain activates default mode network
Aram Ter Minassian1, Emmanuel Ricalens, Stanislas Humbert
1Pôle d'anesthésie réanimation, CHU d'Angers, rue Larrey, Angers Cedex, France. arterminassian@chu-angers.fr
Human Brain Mapping
|March 23, 2012
Summary
Acute pain affects brain networks differently during anticipation versus perception. Pain perception activates the default mode network and attentional networks, unlike anticipation which deactivates it.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Limited research exists on acute pain's impact on attentional and default mode networks.
- Previous studies show conflicting results due to methodological differences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acute pain on attentional networks and the default mode network.
- To clarify the distinct roles of anticipation and pain perception.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used on 20 healthy subjects.
- Pain was induced using controlled electric shocks.
- Experimental design separated rest, anticipation, and pain perception phases.
Main Results:
- Default mode network activity showed a biphasic response to pain.
- During anticipation, the default mode network deactivated while the dorsal attentional network activated.
- During pain perception, both the default mode network and attentional networks activated.
- Left posterior fusiform gyrus activity mirrored the default mode network and correlated negatively with pain intensity.
- Associative pregenual anterior cingulate cortex was implicated in coactivations.
Conclusions:
- Acute pain modulates attentional and default mode networks distinctly during anticipation and perception.
- Findings suggest a loss of anticorrelation between default mode network and dorsal attentional network during pain perception.
- Results align with literature indicating increased default mode network activity with enhanced pain perception.
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