Volumetric brain correlates of approach-avoidance behavior and their relation to chronic back pain.
Brain Imaging Behav
; 14(5): 1758-1768, 2020 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31065925
ABSTRACT
Avoiding any harm, such as painful experiences, is an important ability for our physical and mental health. This avoidance behavior might be overactive under chronic pain, and the cortical and subcortical brain volumetry, which also often changes in chronic pain states, might be a significant correlate of this behavior. In the present study, we thus investigated the association between volumetric brain differences using 3 T structural magnetic resonance imaging and pain- versus pleasure-related approach-avoidance behavior using an Approach Avoidance Task in the laboratory in chronic back pain (N = 42; mean age 51.34 years; 23 female) and healthy individuals (N = 43; mean age 45.21 years; 15 female). We found significant differences in hippocampal, amygdala and accumbens volumes in patients compared to controls. The patients` hippocampal volume was significantly positively related to pain avoidance, the amygdala volume to positive approach, and the accumbens volume negatively to a bias to pain avoidance over positive approach. These associations were significantly moderated by pain symptom duration. Cortical structure may thus contribute to an overacting pain avoidance system in chronic back pain, and could, together with a reduction in approaching positive stimuli, be related to maladaptive choice and decision-making processes in chronic pain.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Reacción de Prevención
/
Dolor Crónico
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Brain Imaging Behav
Asunto de la revista:
CEREBRO
/
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
DIAGNOSTICO POR IMAGEM
Año:
2020
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Alemania