Corticostriatal circuits in the transition to chronic back pain: the predictive role of reward learning

Connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and reward learning independently predict the transition from acute to chronic back pain (CBP). However, how these predictors are related remains unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we inves...

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Main Authors: Löffler, Martin (Author) , Levine, Seth (Author) , Usai, Katrin (Author) , Desch, Simon (Author) , Kandić, Mina (Author) , Nees, Frauke (Author) , Flor, Herta (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: July 6, 2022
In: Cell reports. Medicine
Year: 2022, Volume: 3, Issue: 7, Pages: 1-13, e1-5
ISSN:2666-3791
DOI:10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100677
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100677
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666379122002130
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Author Notes:Martin Löffler, Seth M. Levine, Katrin Usai, Simon Desch, Mina Kandić, Frauke Nees, and Herta Flor
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Summary:Connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and reward learning independently predict the transition from acute to chronic back pain (CBP). However, how these predictors are related remains unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigate NAc- and vmPFC-dependent reward learning in 50 patients with subacute back pain (SABP) and follow them over 6 months. Additionally, we compare 29 patients with CBP and 29 pain-free controls to characterize mechanisms of reward learning in the chronic stage. We find that the learning-related updating of the value of reinforcement (prediction error) in the NAc predicts the transition to chronicity. In CBP, compared with controls, vmPFC responses to this prediction error signal are decreased, but increased during a discriminative stimulus. Distinct processes of reward learning in the vmPFC and NAc characterize the development and maintenance of CBP. These could be targeted for the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.
Item Description:Online verfügbar: 6 July 2022, Artikelversion: 19 July 2022
Gesehen am 05.12.2023
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2666-3791
DOI:10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100677