Although these studies have suggested a correlation between neuropathic pain and cognitive dysfunction, there is still much to learn on how chronic pain may affect brain function and to identify cellular mechanisms underlying cognitive disturbances taking place in chronic pain conditions.
The characteristic surface morphology of the mammalian brain is closely correlated with brain function and dysfunction.
It is well accepted that neuron and glia always interact together in brain functions and neurological disorders including chronic pain [ 62- 64].
Ideally, these tests would explore the entire brain functions (and confirm whole brain death) including supra-tentorial cortex (neocortical brain death) and brain stem (brain stem death).
Rather we speculated that participation in the TEFR09 would prove challenging for other brain functions such as pain suppression with possible activation of amygdala – hippocampal or perigenicular cingulate areas [ 14- 16] or for sheer will power with possible activation of prefrontal areas [ 17].
Previous RS-fMRI studies investigating brain functional connectivity in patients suffering from different chronic pain conditions have already shown a dramatic alteration of DMN connectivity, suggesting that pain has a widespread impact on overall brain function, modifying brain dynamics beyond pain perception [22, 23].
Furthermore, it would be important to know if the structural alterations have influence on brain function other than the experienced pain.
Students should be taught about the influence of sleep on brain function, especially mood and memory.
Although our study was limited to a small sample size, our results confirmed that brain functional connectivity in migraine patients showed an alteration of DMN connectivity, suggesting that pain has a widespread impact on brain function, since modify the complex brain networks and beyond pain perception.
Brain dysfunction affecting intrinsic connectivity in migraine, possibly reflecting the impact of long lasting and constant pain on brain function.
