Research Brief
Fibromyalgia research just published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism shows heightened brain activity between the insular cortex (which is involved in pain processing) and certain networks in the brain. Not only did participants with fibromyalgia show greater activity than those without the condition, fibromites who reported more pain at the time of the test had greater activity than fibromites reporting less pain. You can see the study here: Intrinsic brain connectivity in fibromyalgia is associated with chronic pain intensity.
Researchers took fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) of participants' brains. This study is unusual because they didn't inflict pain on the participants in order to see the reaction, but instead looked at how the fibromyalgia brain is different even while resting.
The results shore up evidence that the pain in fibromyalgia is real and derives from abnormal pain processing in the brain. It also helps explain many of the other symptoms of fibromyalgia.
The insular cortex deals not only with pain, but also with emotion, homeostasis, cognitive function, motor control and self-awareness. Previous fibromyalgia research has identified high levels of glutamate in this region. (Glutamate is a neurotransmitter and excitotoxin that stimulates brain activity.)
The other networks involved were the executive attention network (EAN) and the default-mode network (DMN). The EAN deals with attention and working memory, which are often impaired in fibromyalgia. The DMN is linked to some types of memory and thinking focused on the self.
While we don't yet know why those of us with fibromyalgia have abnormal brain function, we're getting closer to understanding the mechanisms behind our pain, which could help lead to better treatments and may also make the condition more accepted by the medical community.
Learn more or join the conversation!
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My mother, grand mother, sister and myself all have this. I feel it is brought on my STRESS.
It certainly doesn’t make us better people. overly sensitive to just about everything. hard to live with and a hard life with fibro. Wish I could just get rid of the whole nervous mess.
I am saddened to hear that, with all th old and v new research, that FM is not widely known as an HEREDITARY, AND FAMILIAL DISEASE, WITH GENETIC MARKERS NOW WITH EMG STUDIES BEING DEFINATE. Because of thall the great new research, as mentioned in the article that was placed there to assist the reader to become more aware asbout ourselves. Knowledge, if translated by the reader/sufferer, with understanding that all the neural, central sensitazation, abnormal Substance P, adrenaline fuctions within our brains are ABLE, WITH CORRECT HELP, to be ALTERED, WITH THE HELP OF THE PATIENT AND FACILITATORS in the many fields needed to assist FM+CFS+ME+Adrenal Fatigue, TTT, and all other brain dysfunctioning and immune dysfunctioning sufferers. ‘Change’ is a fearful or an empowering word. I hope you will all take the steps to change the present stus of your debilitating conditons and make them WORKABLE. It begins with a POSITIVE AFFIRMING THOUGHT.. then the world opens..Sharon Levin.Head of FM Southern Africa along with the above conditions.www.fibromyalgiasa.co.za
Any chance we could get a citation for this study? (or is it there but I’ve missed it?) (-: MJ
Very interesting! I’d also like a citation of the study.
Unless I missed it…I’m having a higher pain day so that is definitely a possibility.
Sorry that I forgot to put in a link to the abstract! It’s now added.
~Adrienne
How do you find a doctor that will run this test?
This is interesting but it raises a proverbial chicken and egg question…does the chronic pain CAUSE the increased brain activity or is the increased brain activity the CAUSE of the pain? I read lots of different studies but it seems the researchers keep missing the mark. Did they compare these with people without chronic pain? Did they take someone “normal” and inflict pain and see what happens to the brain activity at that time? I’m not trying to debunk anything and I hope the researchers are on the right track but I would like more information. I have suffered from Fibro/Myofacial Pain since 1999 – tried lots of medications and finally quit them all because the side effects to me are worse than the illness.
Jackie,
This isn’t a test that’s done in a clinical setting. So far, it’s only used for research, which is sad for us because it would be very helpful to point to something and say, “See, that proves I’m in pain!”
~Adrienne
I know exactly what you are talking about, sometimes I just break down into tears because of the frustration I feel, not being able to do the things that need to be done, or play with my children who are all still very young, sometimes I think what if my husband gets tired of dealing with this, and leaves us? then what? I beat myself up over not doing the things around the house that need to get done, then I beat myself up over not just sucking it up and playing with the kids…it’s really hard, living like this, never making plans for fear of having to break them…I’m only 29 years old, and sometimes I wish it was already over.