PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-23DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003666
Wacław M Adamczyk,Nick Berendt,Peter Trillenberg,Janina Hanssen,Jakob Poehlmann,Camilla Kapitza,Luisa Luebke,Kerstin Luedtke,Norbert Brüggemann,Tibor M Szikszay
{"title":"Disrupted spatial but not temporal aspects of nociceptive processing determine painful polyneuropathies.","authors":"Wacław M Adamczyk,Nick Berendt,Peter Trillenberg,Janina Hanssen,Jakob Poehlmann,Camilla Kapitza,Luisa Luebke,Kerstin Luedtke,Norbert Brüggemann,Tibor M Szikszay","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003666","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003666","url":null,"abstract":"Polyneuropathy remains a diagnostic and clinical challenge, with limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying painful and nonpainful phenotypes. While previous studies have examined various characteristics of these patients, the temporal and spatial dynamics of endogenous pain modulation remains not fully elucidated. In this study, offset analgesia (OA) and spatial summation of pain (SSp) were used as measures of pain modulation in individuals with distal symmetric polyneuropathy, stratified by the presence (n = 30) or absence of pain (n = 30), and compared with healthy controls (n = 30). All participants underwent quantitative sensory testing and assessments of OA and SSp using a thermal stimulator applied to the dorsum of the foot. Patients with painful polyneuropathy exhibited enhanced SSp compared with the pain-free polyneuropathy group and healthy controls (P < 0.05), and impaired OA compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). The pain-free neuropathy group showed less efficient OA and a slightly enhanced SSp, but this finding did not reach significance. The data suggest that changes in spatial summation were primarily driven by heightened pain responses to nociceptive input from smaller areas, rather than larger ones. Notably, spatial summation and the effects of OA were found to be correlated, irrespective of pain diagnosis. These findings underscore specific impairments in endogenous pain modulation in individuals with painful neuropathy, thus advancing our understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms. They further highlight the differential roles of spatial and temporal dynamics in pain modulation across various neuropathic populations, offering promising avenues for improved diagnostics and prognostics related to polyneuropathy-associated pain.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-23DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003650
Haiquan Li,Jungwei W Fan,Edwin Baldwin,Wenting Luo,Jin Zhou,W Michael Hooten
{"title":"Progression trajectories of chronic overlapping pain conditions unveiled across two large clinical data warehouses.","authors":"Haiquan Li,Jungwei W Fan,Edwin Baldwin,Wenting Luo,Jin Zhou,W Michael Hooten","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003650","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003650","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs) affect a wide population and incur a substantial disease burden including comorbid mental disorders. Although these comorbidities have been extensively documented, the longitudinal trajectories of their onset, particularly for those with three or more conditions, have been rarely studied. We conducted retrospective cohort studies to identify statistically significant COPCs and mental health trajectories in the All of Us Research Program (AoU v8, 338,170 persons) and the Mayo Data Warehouse (3,957,444 individuals). For each trajectory, cases were matched with controls by demographic factors. Logistic regression was then applied to assess the increased likelihood of the final condition given the prior conditions in that sequence. The significant trajectories were visualized as a \"pain forest.\" More than 88% of trajectories identified from AoU (Male: 78, Female: 361) were reproducible in the Mayo Data Warehouse data (Male: 361, Female: 1286), with female trajectories encompassing more than 96% of the male trajectories. The findings indicate that chronic low back pain generally occurs earlier than other conditions, while fibromyalgia tends to follow other COPCs. Endometriosis seems to be associated with an increased prevalence of COPCs in women. In addition, longer trajectories are associated with a greater risk of developing additional COPC or mental condition. The results offer new insights into the progression of COPCs and associated mental conditions, which may inform healthcare providers and patients in managing and preventing exacerbation of these conditions.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"142 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-21DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003646
Haruki Nishimura,Jonathan Layne,Kohei Yamaura,Ralph Marcucio,Kazuhito Morioka,Allan I Basbaum,Jarret A P Weinrich,Chelsea S Bahney
{"title":"A bad break: mechanisms and assessment of acute and chronic pain after bone fracture.","authors":"Haruki Nishimura,Jonathan Layne,Kohei Yamaura,Ralph Marcucio,Kazuhito Morioka,Allan I Basbaum,Jarret A P Weinrich,Chelsea S Bahney","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003646","url":null,"abstract":"Pain is one of the primary indicators of a bone fracture and serves both a functional and practical role in guiding recovery. However, fracture pain can persist long after the fracture itself has clinically healed. The neural and molecular mechanisms that drive acute pain postfracture, and how these mechanisms are pathologically usurped to trap patients into persistent, debilitating, and often difficult to treat, chronic pain, are not well understood. The aim of this review is to provide insight into the risk factors for pain persistence after fracture, review the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of fracture pain, and critically evaluate the literature around fracture pain assessment techniques/models. Taken together, the concepts covered herein will provide a strong foundation to support the development of more effective treatments to better alleviate postfracture pain.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"131 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003655
Nils Runge,Ishtiaq Ahmed,Julya Perea,Céline Labie,Aurore Roland,Zosia Goossens,Olivier Mairesse,Jo Nijs,Anneleen Malfliet,Sabine Verschueren,Dieter Van Assche,Kurt de Vlam,Nicole Tang,Bruno Saconi,Aamir Raoof Memon,Liesbet De Baets
{"title":"Terminology and definitions of sleep problems and disorders used in chronic musculoskeletal pain research-a scoping review with recommendations for future research.","authors":"Nils Runge,Ishtiaq Ahmed,Julya Perea,Céline Labie,Aurore Roland,Zosia Goossens,Olivier Mairesse,Jo Nijs,Anneleen Malfliet,Sabine Verschueren,Dieter Van Assche,Kurt de Vlam,Nicole Tang,Bruno Saconi,Aamir Raoof Memon,Liesbet De Baets","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003655","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003655","url":null,"abstract":"Sleep problems and disorders are prevalent in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). Yet, previous reviews have struggled to draw precise conclusions due to inconsistent terminology and definitions of sleep problems and disorders. This review analyzed 225 studies to map terminology and definitions for sleep problems and disorders in CMP research. The included studies provided 326 definitions for 39 terminologies. The terminologies \"insomnia,\" \"poor sleep quality,\" and \"sleep disturbance\" were the most commonly used, though definitions varied significantly. Definitions of, for example, insomnia included different questionnaires, diagnostic criteria, and symptom-based assessments. This pattern was seen across most terminologies. This review also found overlapping definitions, such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index being used for 7 different terminologies. Inconsistent and overlapping use of terminologies and definitions creates confusion and potentially obscures sleep-pain links and the effectiveness of sleep interventions for CMP. This review makes recommendations for CMP researchers to choose the most appropriate terminology and definition for their research aim but also underlines the need for a consensus on terminology and measurement approaches. Standardizing terminology and definitions will enhance research accuracy, improve comparability, and strengthen the evidence base in the sleep-CMP field.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144097743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003634
Andrea Beisswanger,Greta Z Peschke,Noortje W M V D Braak,Christina Dumke,Andrea Fiebig,Volker Espenkott,Annette Lischka,Angelika Lampert,Roman Rolke,Maike F Dohrn,Barbara Namer
{"title":"Microneurographic portrait of 19 patients with small fiber neuropathy-A pilot study.","authors":"Andrea Beisswanger,Greta Z Peschke,Noortje W M V D Braak,Christina Dumke,Andrea Fiebig,Volker Espenkott,Annette Lischka,Angelika Lampert,Roman Rolke,Maike F Dohrn,Barbara Namer","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003634","url":null,"abstract":"Small fiber neuropathy (SFN) is defined by dysfunction or degeneration of Aδ and C fibers, causing impaired temperature perception and spontaneous neuropathic pain. We performed microneurography (MNG) to analyze C-nociceptor properties in 19 patients with SFN. C-nociceptors were classified as mechanosensitive or mechano-insensitive, and either \"normal,\" \"hyperactive,\" or \"hypoactive.\" Results were compared with quantitative sensory testing (QST), intraepidermal nerve fiber densities (IENFD), and ratings of ongoing spontaneous pain (OSP) and electrical sinusoidal stimulation (eSS). In 17 patients with SFN experiencing OSP, we observed pathological nociceptors. We found a significantly greater proportion of hyperactive nociceptors whenever OSP was present in the examined area-on the foot-(OSPF); however, on an individual level, there was no significant correlation between the rating of OSP and the proportion of hyperactive fibers. Pain ratings of eSS were higher in the OSPF group and correlated with the proportion of hyperactive nerve fibers in MNG. In conclusion, spontaneous activity and mechanically sensitized C-nociceptors, predominantly mechano-insensitive C fibers (CMi), are potential biomarkers for ongoing pain. As CMi functionality is not assessed via IENFD or QST, but correlated with OSPF and ratings of eSS, those measures might become valuable tools to characterize SFN because they assess nociceptor pathology relevant for spontaneous ongoing pain in SFN. Microneurography reveals C-nociceptor dysfunction beyond conventional testing such as QST or IENFD. Microneurography and rating of electrical sinusoidal stimuli may aid in diagnosing C-nociceptor dysfunction in cases with unaltered QST and IENFD and offer insights into the role of hyperactive C-nociceptors in ongoing neuropathic pain.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003652
Ellen L Schaldemose,Peter K Brask-Thomsen,Mustapha Itani,Francesca Fardo,Pall Karlsson,Alexander G Kristensen,Hatice Tankisi,Troels S Jensen,Ralf Baron,Nanna B Finnerup,Sandra S Gylfadottir
{"title":"A longitudinal study of paradoxical heat sensation in 420 individuals.","authors":"Ellen L Schaldemose,Peter K Brask-Thomsen,Mustapha Itani,Francesca Fardo,Pall Karlsson,Alexander G Kristensen,Hatice Tankisi,Troels S Jensen,Ralf Baron,Nanna B Finnerup,Sandra S Gylfadottir","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003652","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003652","url":null,"abstract":"A paradoxical heat sensation (PHS) is the feeling of warmth when the skin is cooled. Paradoxical heat sensation is a pathological sign associated with neuropathy, eg, diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN). The aim of this study was to examine whether specific characteristics in the sensory nervous system are associated with PHS and to evaluate whether PHS is a predictor of thermal sensory loss or neuropathy. Using baseline and 5-year follow-up data from a study on patients with type 2 diabetes, we analyzed the relationship between PHS and sensory and neurophysiological parameters, assessed with quantitative sensory testing (QST), nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsy measures. A total of 420 individuals was included. Sixty-two individuals had diabetes without DPN, 263 had DPN of which 89 had painful DPN, and 95 were controls without diabetes. At baseline, the frequency of PHS was higher in patients with DPN (51%) than in controls (32%, P = 0.001, Pearson χ2 test), but there were no differences between patients with diabetes with and without DPN or between those with painful vs painless DPN (both P ≥ 0.085). Among individuals with normal baseline thermal sensation (defined from the QST normative material) (n = 161), PHS at baseline was associated with thermal sensory loss at follow-up (χ2 = 4.7, P = 0.03, logistic regression, joint test, adjusted for sex, age, and neuropathy status). Across all groups, participants with PHS exhibited thermal sensory loss. This is the first longitudinal study on PHS. We confirmed that PHS is related to thermal sensory loss. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PHS is an early marker of thermal sensory loss, which may have therapeutic or prophylactic implications.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"133 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003631
Rui Li,Andrew H Rogers,Ayesha C Sujan,Chuan Zhou,Prishha Thiagarajan,Tonya M Palermo,Zeev N Kain,Jennifer A Rabbitts
{"title":"Psychosocial mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic postsurgical pain in youth following spinal fusion: a 6-month longitudinal study.","authors":"Rui Li,Andrew H Rogers,Ayesha C Sujan,Chuan Zhou,Prishha Thiagarajan,Tonya M Palermo,Zeev N Kain,Jennifer A Rabbitts","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003631","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003631","url":null,"abstract":"Theoretical and empirical work underscores the role of postsurgical acute pain severity and psychosocial factors in the development of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). However, evidence on how psychosocial changes in response to acute pain influence CPSP development in adolescents is limited. In this 6-month longitudinal study, adolescents undergoing spinal fusion were assessed presurgery, monitored for 30 days postsurgery, and re-evaluated at 8 weeks and 6 months. We examined changes in adolescent psychosocial factors (depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing) and parental distress from presurgery to 8 weeks postsurgery and tested their mediating effects between postsurgical acute pain intensity and interference, and CPSP development at 6 months. Among 160 adolescents included (10-18 years [M = 14.6, SD = 2.1]; 77% female; 17% Hispanic), 34% developed CPSP (pain intensity ≥3 and quality of life impairment) at 6 months. Adolescents who developed CPSP had higher pain intensity, psychological distress, and parental distress presurgery and 8 weeks postsurgery. Longitudinal causal mediation analyses controlling for sex and presurgery pain and psychosocial factors revealed that changes in adolescent anxiety and pain catastrophizing from presurgery to 8 weeks postsurgery mediated the link between postsurgical acute pain intensity and CPSP, explaining 13.8% and 11.0% of the effect, respectively. In addition, changes in adolescent pain catastrophizing mediated the association between acute pain interference and CPSP, explaining 19.6% of the effect. Significant mediation effects were not observed for changes in adolescent depression or parental distress. Anxiety symptoms and pain catastrophizing are actionable targets both before and after surgery to reduce CPSP development in adolescence.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144130708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-20DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003656
Allison M Barry, Julia R Sondermann, Joseph B Lesnak, Feng Xian, Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga, Jayden A O'Brien, David Gomez-Varela, Morgan K Schackmuth, Stephanie Shiers, Theodore J Price, Manuela Schmidt
{"title":"Multi-omic integration with human dorsal root ganglia proteomics highlights TNFα signalling as a relevant sexually dimorphic pathway.","authors":"Allison M Barry, Julia R Sondermann, Joseph B Lesnak, Feng Xian, Úrzula Franco-Enzástiga, Jayden A O'Brien, David Gomez-Varela, Morgan K Schackmuth, Stephanie Shiers, Theodore J Price, Manuela Schmidt","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003656","DOIUrl":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003656","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>The peripheral nervous system (PNS) plays a critical role in pathological conditions, including chronic pain disorders, that manifest differently in men and women. To investigate this sexual dimorphism at the molecular level, we integrated quantitative proteomic profiling of human dorsal root ganglia (hDRG) and peripheral nerve tissue into the expanding omics framework of the PNS. Using data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry, we characterized a comprehensive proteomic profile, validating tissue-specific differences between the hDRG and peripheral nerve. Through multi-omic analyses and in vitro functional assays, we identified sex-specific molecular differences, with TNFα signalling emerging as a key sexually dimorphic pathway with higher prominence in men. Genetic evidence from genome-wide association studies further supports the functional relevance of TNFα signalling in the periphery, while clinical trial data and meta-analyses indicate a sex-dependent response to TNFα inhibitors. Collectively, these findings underscore a functionally sexual dimorphism in the PNS, with direct implications for sensory and pain-related clinical translation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144102208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-19DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003654
Patrick H Finan,Luana Colloca
{"title":"Expectations and patient outcomes: a framework for intervention development in chronic pain management.","authors":"Patrick H Finan,Luana Colloca","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003654","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003654","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144097744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PAIN®Pub Date : 2025-05-15DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003620
Adam Sunavsky,Muhammad Ali Hashmi,Jason William Robertson,Jennika Veinot,Javeria Ali Hashmi
{"title":"The nucleus accumbens-prefrontal connectivity as a predictor of chronic low back pain.","authors":"Adam Sunavsky,Muhammad Ali Hashmi,Jason William Robertson,Jennika Veinot,Javeria Ali Hashmi","doi":"10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003620","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003620","url":null,"abstract":"The nucleus accumbens (NAc) and its prefrontal connections are implicated in the aetiology of chronic low back pain (CLBP). Animal and human studies suggest that the NAc and its connections play a critical role in the transition from acute to CLBP. However, whole-brain connectivity in individuals with longstanding CLBP has not been systematically investigated. Using a functional connectomics approach, we examined whether the 2 NAc subregions-shell and core-exhibit different whole-brain connectivity between CLBP patients and healthy controls (HCs; total N = 197). The identified connections were correlated with CLBP intensity (multiple comparisons corrected), and their reproducibility was validated in 2 independent cohorts. These clinically relevant and reproducible connections were further leveraged to classify CLBP using machine learning. Compared with HC (n = 41), individuals with CLBP (n = 39) exhibited hyperconnectivity between the NAc shell and core and the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Although several NAc-PFC connections were linked to higher CLBP intensity, only the connections between the left NAc shell and core to the right dorsolateral PFC were reproduced in validation cohorts (total CLBP n = 53; HC n = 64). Nucleus accumbens-right dorsolateral PFC connections achieved 84% classification accuracy using logistic regression. The machine learning analyses demonstrate how knowledge-based feature selection can reliably detect CLBP. Overall, we report that NAc-PFC connectivity consistently distinguishes people with CLBP from HC and suggest an abnormal interaction between the NAc and brain regions involved in motivation, decision-making, and pain regulation.","PeriodicalId":19921,"journal":{"name":"PAIN®","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144097745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}