The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is not only important in executive functions, but also pain
processing. The latter is dependent on its connections to other areas of the cerebral …

Placebo effects are beneficial effects that are attributable to the brain–mind responses to the
context in which a treatment is delivered rather than to the specific actions of the drug. They …

The distinction between positive and negative emotions is fundamental in emotion models.
Intriguingly, neurobiological work suggests shared mechanisms across positive and …

Pain is a multidimensional experience that involves interacting sensory, cognitive, and
affective factors, rendering the treatment of chronic pain challenging and financially …

Non-invasive functional brain imaging is used more than ever to investigate pain in health
and disease, with the prospect of finding new means to alleviate pain and improve patient …

Pain is fundamentally unpleasant, a feature that protects the organism by promoting
motivation and learning. Relief of aversive states, including pain, is rewarding. The …

Pharmacological strategies for pain management have primarily focused on dampening
ascending neurotransmission and on opioid receptor–mediated therapies. Little is known …

It has long been appreciated that the experience of pain is highly variable between
individuals. Pain results from activation of sensory receptors specialized to detect actual or …

Anhedonia is a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD), the neurobiological
mechanisms of which remain poorly understood. Despite decades of speculation regarding …

Modern medicine has progressed in parallel with the advancement of biochemistry,
anatomy, and physiology. By using the tools of modern medicine, the physician today can …