Science Daily: Resting Brain Activity Associated With Spontaneous Fibromyalgia Pain

ScienceDaily (July 30, 2010) — A recent study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and University of Michigan provides the first direct evidence of linkage between elevated intrinsic (resting-state) brain connectivity and spontaneous pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). This research shows an interaction of multiple brain networks, offering greater understanding of how pain arises.

In order to streamline things, I've copied and pasted the base information here so you can read it HERE to get an idea of how well it is written and as I said FOLLOW THE LINK to see it for yourself at their website and keep on learning from them if it's a source you vibe with!

Details of the study appear online and in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

Chronic pain syndromes such as FM can cause widespread pain that varies in intensity and fluctuates over time. In addition to pain, FM patients may experience other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory problems, and temperature sensitivity. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases estimates that FM affects 5 million American 18 years of age or older, occurring more often in women (80%-90%).

In the current study, Vitaly Napadow, Ph.D. and colleagues enrolled 36 female subjects -- 18 FM patients and 18 healthy control subjects with a mean age of 38.9 and 36.1 years of age, respectively. FM study subjects had a disease-duration of at least 1 year, self-reported pain for more than 50% of each day, and were willing to limit introduction of new medications or treatment strategies to control FM symptoms.

As a part of the study, 6 minutes of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) data from study subjects were collected. Data were analyzed using dual-regression independent components analysis -- a data-driven approach for the identification of independent brain networks. Intrinsic connectivity was evaluated in multiple brain networks: the default mode network (DMN), the executive attention network (EAN), and the medial visual network (MVN), with the MVN serving as a negative control.

Prior to undergoing the MRI scan, participants were asked to rate the intensity of their FM pain on a scale of 0-10, where 0 is equivalent to "no pain present" and 10 is equivalent to "the worst pain they could imagine." The pain scores ranged widely, from 0 to 8.1.

"Our results clearly show that individuals with FM have greater connectivity between multiple brain networks and the insular cortex, which is a brain region previously linked with evoked pain processing and hyperexcitability in FM," said Dr. Napadow. The research team found that patients with FM had greater intrinsic connectivity within the right EAN, and between the DMN and the insular cortex -- a brain region linked to evoked pain processing. "In patients with FM, our findings strongly implicate the insular cortex as being a key node in the elevated intrinsic connectivity," added Dr. Napadow. "Patients demonstrated greater DMN connectivity to the left anterior, middle, and posterior insula." In the right EAN, FM patients demonstrated greater intra-network connectivity within the right intraparietal sulcus (iPS). Researchers found no differences between the FM and healthy control groups for the left EAN or the MVN.

The current findings provide better understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms of clinical pain in FM and may potentially lead to markers of disease progression. Broader implications for explaining how subjective experiences such as pain arise from a complex interplay among multiple brain networks can also be derived from this study. "Our approach represents a novel step forward in finding the neural correlates of spontaneous clinical pain," concluded Dr. Napadow. "However, our results were derived strictly from patients with FM and may not be generalized to other chronic pain states, an area we are currently evaluating for further research."

Comments

Sun, 08/01/2010 - 8:59pm

#1 [3]

Aimee Shannon

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Major

Joined: Jul 12 2010

Posts: 30

Re: Science Daily: Resting Brain Activity Associated With ...

Ok Mardy,

Help break this down for the unscientific minds amongst us! I have read this four times over two days and well, I'm still confused!

I can't decide if it's the fog or if I'm just getting stupid with age!

Thank you!!

__________________

~~Aimee

Aimee Shannon is a licensed social worker who has fibromyalgia along with a collection of other illnesses. Aimee is passionate that those dealing with chronic illnesses need education and support to best manage their illnesses. Along with contributions of writing for Lumigrate in 2009-11, Aimee can be found leading a support group on Facebook, as well as in-person support groups in the Dayton, Ohio region. Please connect if you wish, at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fibromyalgia-Support-Groups-by-Aimee/94975642116 [4]

Mon, 08/02/2010 - 10:59am

#2 [8]

Mardy Ross

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Top of the Totem Pole

Joined: Feb 16 2009

Posts: 2032

You Know.... This might be one for The Grate Group

I'm going to ask the providers to comment on this, Aimee.... in particular the ones that are brain/pain specialists. Thanks for letting me know it wasn't just ME that was saying 'I kinda get what this is saying but not totally'. "What does that connect to with other things we've been talking about at Lumigrate with the providers" was what went through my mind. ~~ Mardy

__________________

Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [2] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!

Tue, 08/03/2010 - 11:41am

#3 [9]

Dr. Jerry Rand

Title: LumiGRATE Poster - Frequently

Joined: Apr 9 2010

Posts: 2

My Take After Reading This....

Continued support that fibromyalgia represents altered brain sensitivity!

Research continues to link fibromyalgia with central pain sensitization. Whether this is a cause and effect or primary process is yet to be determined. What is likely is that fibro affects multiple brain sites.

Note from January 2012: I have been contacted by more than one former patient of Dr Rand's at Bay Recovery asking me to remove all information about him due to their concerns for others based upon their experiences. I appreciate that they are taking the time to research where he might be doing outreach to get his name heard, so thank YOU. That is true 'generosity of time and energy' which might be translated into 'spirit'.

I have opted to keep this and one other piece and adding this suggestion for researching if selecting as a physician to consult with because it is "baby with bathwater" phenomenon. This interview is an excellent resource for people to learn from and over almost two years was read/heard by many.

To help in your researching this provider (and I suggest you do this for all your providers) here's a link to the portion of the California Medical Board related to Dr Rand: www2.mbc.ca.gov/LicenseLookupSystem/PhysicianSurgeon/Lookup.aspx [10]

__________________

M.D. APMC, ASAM, CASAM, APS, MROCC,

Jerry Rand, MD is the founder and medical director of Bay Recovery Centers and Medical Clinic in San Diego, CA. He and his team of medical providers specialize in treating chronic pain disorders and treating the common addictions which occur with the chronic pain population. Their primary website is: http://www.bayrecovery.com.Â [11]

We are privileged to have Dr. Rand contributing at Lumigrate in a forum in the Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia section (Link: http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/health-issuesdis-eases/fibro... [12]).