Title:Reciprocal Interaction of Pain and Brain: Plasticity-induced Pain,
Pain-induced Plasticity, and Therapeutic Targets
Volume: 22
Issue: 10
Author(s): Masoumeh Kourosh-Arami*Alireza Komaki
Affiliation:
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Nociception, neuropathic pain, plasticity, therapeutic, brain, interaction.
Abstract: Considerable functional and structural alterations, or plasticity, in the central nervous system
(CNS) are accompanied by numerous chronic pain syndromes. Sensitization of the peripheral
(primary hyperalgesia) or central (secondary hyperalgesia) nervous system as unhelpful neuroplasticity
may result in stimulus-induced pain (hyperalgesia and allodynia). Furthermore, nociception induces
extensive plasticity in the peripheral and central neural systems in pathological disease states. Diseaseinduced
plasticity at both structural and functional levels is evident as alterations in different molecules,
synapses, cellular function and network activity. In the present article, we review plasticityinduced
pain and pain-induced plasticity. Moreover, we will review the pain matrix. Furthermore, we
will focus on recent developments of CNS alterations in long-lasting pain in some clinical entities encountered
in rehabilitation. These clinical entities comprise nonspecific low back pain, complex regional
pain syndrome, postamputation phantom pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain after spinal cord
injury. Moreover, we will review the clinical treatment for the inhibition of pathological pain.