Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2025
Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
Functional connectivity response to acute pain assessed by fNIRS is associated with BDNF genotype in fibromyalgia: an
Álvaro de Oliveira Franco1, Guilherme de Oliveira Venturini1,2, Camila Fernanda da Silveira Alves1,2
1Laboratory of Pain and Neuromodulation, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), 2400 Rua Ramiro Barcelos, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
Abstract:
Fibromyalgia is a heterogenous primary pain syndrome whose severity has been associated with descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) function and functional connectivity (FC) between pain processing areas. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met single nucleotide polymorphism has been linked to vulnerability to chronic pain. In this cross-sectional imaging genetics study, we investigated fibromyalgia, the relationship between BDNF Val66Met heterozygous genotypes (Val/Met), and the functional connectivity (FC) response pattern to acute pain stimulus in the motor (MC) and prefrontal (PFC) cortex assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) before and after a cold pressor test utilizing water (0-1 °C). Also, we assessed the relationship between this genotype with the DPMS function and quality of life. We included 42 women (Val/Val = 30; Val/Met = 12) with fibromyalgia, ages 18-65. The MANCOVA comparing Val/Met to Val/Val genotypes showed higher ΔFC between left(l)-PFC-l-MC (β = 0.357, p = 0.048), l-PFC-right(r)-PFC (β = 0.249, p = 0.012), l-PFC-r-MC (β = 0.226, p = 0.022), and l-MC-r-PFC (β = 0.260, p = 0.016). Val/Met genotypes showed higher efficiency of the DPMS and lower disability due to pain. Here we show that fibromyalgia patients carrying the Val/Met BDNF genotype presented an increased ΔFC across MC and PFC in response to acute pain associated with differences in acute pain perception and fibromyalgia symptoms.
