Neuroimaging of v1isceral pain

Abstract

Visceral pain is a complex and multidimensional experience associated with a plethora of underlying pathologies. Chronic visceral pain remains poorly understood and sub-optimally managed in the clinic. Thus, it exerts a significant socioeconomic burden and reduction in health-related quality of life. In excess of 100 studies over the past 20 years have provided insights into the supraspinal processing of visceral pain both in health and disease, with many utilising neuroimaging. However, there remains considerable controversy due to marked variability in stimulation paradigms and participant selection. In this chapter, we provide a focused review of the literature concerning the neuroimaging of visceral pain and also propose some new directions. Such new directions may provide further insights into the pathophysiology of visceral pain syndromes and facilitate the objective evaluation of novel treatment strategies.