Impaired Brain Connectivity Linked to Fibromyalgia

Impaired connectivity between pain signals and sensorimotor areas of the brain could be associated with fibromyalgia, according to a recent study.

For the study, researchers evaluated 16 women with fibromyalgia, and 22 healthy women who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while pressure was applied to their thumb to administer various levels of pain. Each participant received 15 stimuli (that lasted 2.5 seconds) at 30-second intervals.
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According to researchers, patients completed a pain-sensitivity test the day prior to MRI scans. Participants rated their sensitivity as a computer-controlled pressure stimulator applied pressure on their left thumbs. Researchers used the information collected to deliver randomized pressure levels for each participant (based on her data) during the MRI.

The study showed that, compared to the control group, the group of women with fibromyalgia yielded significantly heightened pain sensitivity. Namely, the fibromyalgia participants showed patterns of functional decoupling in the areas of the brain that control sensorimotor activities and process pain signals.

“Fibromyalgia is an understudied condition with an unknown cause that can only be diagnosed by its symptoms,” said Christopher Pawela, PhD, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Brain Connectivity,and assistant professor for the Medical College of Wisconsin.

“This study by Flodin et al is an important first step in the understanding of how the brain is involved in the widespread pain perception that is characteristic of the disorder,” he said.

Investigators noted that individuals were not allowed to take pain medication for 48 hours before initial pain-sensitivity testing and 72 hours before the MRI scans.

The complete study is published in the October issue of Brain Connectivity.

-Michelle Canales

References:

Flodin P, Martinsen S, Löfgren M, et al. Fibromyalgia is associated with decreased connectivity between pain- and sensorimotor brain areas. Brain Connectivity. 2014 October [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1089/brain.2014.0274.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers. Fibromyalgia and the role of brain connectivity in brain inhibition. October 1, 2014. www.liebertpub.com/global/pressrelease/fibromyalgia-and-the-role-of-brain-connectivity-in-pain-inhibition/1523/.  Accessed October 2, 2014.