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Papers of the Week


Papers: 12 Oct 2024 - 18 Oct 2024


2024 Oct 04


Cell Rep Med


39383872

Advances and challenges in neuroimaging-based pain biomarkers.

Authors

Zhang LB, Chen YX, Li ZJ, Geng XY, Zhao XY, Zhang FR, Bi YZ, Lu XJ, Hu L

Abstract

Identifying neural biomarkers of pain has long been a central theme in pain neuroscience. Here, we review the state-of-the-art candidates for neural biomarkers of acute and chronic pain. We classify these potential neural biomarkers into five categories based on the nature of their target variables, including neural biomarkers of (1) within-individual perception, (2) between-individual sensitivity, and (3) discriminability for acute pain, as well as (4) assessment and (5) prospective neural biomarkers for chronic pain. For each category, we provide a synthesized review of candidate biomarkers developed using neuroimaging techniques including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and electroencephalography (EEG). We also discuss the conceptual and practical challenges in developing neural biomarkers of pain. Addressing these challenges, optimal biomarkers of pain can be developed to deepen our understanding of how the brain represents pain and ultimately help alleviate patients’ suffering and improve their well-being.