Voxel based morphometry (VBM), brain imaging of a multifaceted chronic pain evaluation.

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26462381
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Anesthesiology
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: Fukui Sei 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (80303783)
• Research Collaborator: TANAKA Sachiko ; IWASHITA Narihito ; YOSHIMURA Masaharu ; MIYATA Katsunori ; ITOH Akira
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: Voxel based morphometry / 慢性疼痛 / 灰白質体積 / 灰白質密度 / 扁桃体 / 脳形態変化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Voxel based morphometry (VBM) is a morphological brain imaging method. VBM can statistically detect morphological changes of the brain and measure gray matter volume. We evaluated brain morphological change using voxel-based morphometry on ninety two patients who suffer from chronic pain. The gray matter volume was most decreased in amygdala in chronic pain patients. Left amygdala showed a statistically significant decrease in gray matter volume more than right amygdala. Furthermore, we searched morphologi cal change after 4 months treatment about 3 patients who had gray matter decrease in .amygdala.　Our results suggest that gray matter decrease in amygdala may normalize by treatment.
Amygdala is associated with negative emotions and dysfunction of amygdala influences chronic pain as expression of pain behavior. Examining changes in gray matter volume of the brain using VBM may be one method of a multifaceted approach to chronic pain.

Free Research Field

疼痛医学