Can We Objectively Measure Pain? | Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D.

Well SupportedPain perception is a distributed network of different brain systems, not a single pain center.

Partially SupportedCore brain patterns represent the experience of pain, allowing for prediction of pain in others.

Partially SupportedBrain regions including the thalamus, posterior insular cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex show increased activity during pain.

Partially SupportedfMRI can detect brain activation patterns associated with pain.

Partially SupportedObjective pain biomarkers are being developed to predict a patient's future state, treatment response, and vulnerability to injury or surgery.