Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)最新文献

{"title":"Electrophysiological biomarkers for foundational signal markers in chronic pancreatitis using machine learning models.","authors":"Rasmus Bach Nedergaard, Imran Khan Niazi, Fredy Rojas, Usman Ghani, Ana Dugic, Anna Evans Phillips, Mahya Faghih, Misbah Unnisa, Rasmus Hagn-Meincke, Zoltán Hajnády, Dhiraj Yadav, Enrique de-Madaria, Peter Hegyi, Pramod Garg, Rupjyoti Talukdar, Søren Schou Olesen, Shagufta Farheen, Soumya Jagannath, Vikesh Singh, Asbjørn Mohr Drewes","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1857591","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1857591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Most patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) experience abdominal pain, but the pathophysiology differs. We aimed to investigate whether using only electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) could be used to identify distinct differences between healthy controls and people with CP with and without pain.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study utilised cross-sectional data from a multicentre research project, including healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 35) and patients with CP (<i>n</i> = 124), with (<i>n</i> = 94) and without (<i>n</i> = 30) pain. EEG and ECG recordings were analysed while resting and in experimental pain states. Analysis was performed using the machine learning models: decision tree classifier, random forest classifier, logistic regression, and support vector machine. The features used in the machine learning models were statistical-, entropy-, and fractal-feature extraction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Classifying differences between all CP patients and controls yielded 78% F1-score (both EEG and ECG) using a support vector machine. Classifying differences between CP patients with and without pain was less precise, with a maximum 63% F1-score (both EEG and ECG) using a support vector machine. Overall, EEG and ECG improved classifications by up to 10 percentage points. Adding the cold pressor (tonic pain) condition did not reliably change the separation between patients with and without pain, which remained near chance.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The classification helps to show the importance of potential EEG and ECG measures in characterization of chronic pancreatitis and pain. Future work should focus on incorporating other disease-specific features in the model.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1857591"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13438447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148681348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Advances in neuromodulation for chronic pain: mechanisms and clinical implications.","authors":"Hong Jiang, Linlin Sun, Fengyu Liu, Hong Jiang","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1926081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2026.1926081","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1926081"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13433427/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148674848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploratory EEG correlates of sensory and affective pain dimensions in patients with chronic widespread pain.","authors":"Keita Ueno, Keiko Yamada, Masaya Ueda, Yasuo Naito, Ryouhei Ishii","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1705011","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1705011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Chronic widespread pain (CWP) is a debilitating condition characterized by persistent pain, yet objective biomarkers based on electroencephalography (EEG) remain elusive. This exploratory study aimed to identify neurophysiological correlations related to the sensory and affective dimensions of CWP using resting-state EEG data analyzed with exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed data from 20 CWP patients and 22 healthy controls, calculating current source density (CSD) and functional connectivity (FC) in key brain networks and correlating them with pain scores from the numerical rating scale and short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While no significant CSD or FC differences emerged between the groups, analysis within the CWP group yielded two preliminary associations. First, current pain intensity was negatively correlated with CSD values in the γ bands of the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (r = -0.743). Second, the affective pain component was positively correlated with δ band FC between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the right anterior insula (r = 0.647).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results suggest that EEG-derived neurophysiological correlations can offer insights into individual differences in the CWP experience. The findings in the precuneus/PCC may reflect exploratory correlations associated with sensory pain intensity, while the salience network connectivity may be linked to the affective dimension of pain. Future research with larger, homogeneous samples and longitudinal designs is needed to evaluate the potential clinical relevance of these electrophysiological correlations.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1705011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422479/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148633103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing current non-pharmacologic pain management practices for sickle cell disease in adults.","authors":"Shreya Kolipaka, Michelle L Axe, Charmaine S Wright, Stephanie H Guarino","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1751622","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1751622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Both acute and chronic pain caused by sickle cell disease (SCD) is often managed with opioid therapy despite limited evidence for long-term efficacy. Adequately managing SCD pain requires a comprehensive approach, incorporating both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. In other conditions, peer-mentored group programs are effective in managing chronic pain; however, their role in SCD is not yet described. Our objective is to understand patients' current pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic SCD management practices as well as further exploring perspectives of pain related to SCD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Participants were interviewed using semi-structured format. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed. Descriptive statistics and pain management modality frequencies were analyzed with Microsoft Excel. Qualitative analyses, utilizing NVIVO, identified themes through thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-four interviews were conducted. One interview was excluded due to incomplete audio-recording. Participants described a range of coping skills including both pharmacological and non-pharmacologic pain management techniques. 81.8% (23/28) identified a relationship between stress and pain. Most patients were interested in a group intervention for pain related to SCD; 60.9% (17/28) preferred peer moderators to co-lead the intervention with medical professionals. 85.7% (24/28) preferred a fully in-person or a hybrid intervention. Pain descriptions included severe bone pain, sharp and shooting pain, and throbbing and aching body wide pain.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients with SCD already use many non-pharmacologic methods for pain relief and endorse a desire to learn about and engage in additional techniques. There is considerable interest among patients in participating in group interventions for chronic pain related to SCD, especially if they are facilitated by peers. Future research should focus on the efficacy and benefit of various non-pharmacologic techniques for pain management in SCD.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1751622"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422432/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148633118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New insight into RNA biomarkers in neuropathic pain: a clinician-neuroscientist roadmap to translational testing and treatment monitoring a clinical review.","authors":"Amol Soin, Massab Khaira, Aviraj Soin, Dhilen Soin, Shreyas Shah, Sabrina Tolppi, Anubhav Tripathi","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1874336","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1874336","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuropathic pain affects an estimated 7%-10% of the global population and imposes an annual economic burden exceeding $600 billion in the United States alone. It lacks robust objective biomarkers; current diagnosis relies heavily on subjective reporting and heterogeneous phenotypes. Currently utilized pain assessment tools include the brief pain inventory (BPI), numerical rating scales (0-10 pain scores), and the visual analog score (VAS), which depend on patient-reported outcomes and are influenced by social, psychological and contextual factors. This subjectivity contributes to heterogeneous phenotyping and variability (>30%) towards the treatment response. Emerging transcriptomic and epitranscriptomic evidence suggests that RNA-based biomarkers may offer a biologically sound and objective approach to understanding and managing pain by capturing underlying molecular mechanisms. Therefore, the present clinical review focused on RNA biomarker classes (mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA, RNA editing, RNA modifications) and proposes a clinically deployable testing system for diagnosis, stratification, and treatment monitoring, since there are no FDA-approved RNA-based biomarkers for pain. Therefore, this review synthesizes evidence from immune-cell transcriptomic meta-analysis (TCL1A/ERAP2), dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and central nervous system gene expression patterns (EFNB2, GABBR1, NCAM1, SCN11A)/brain genetic architecture via single-cell omics integration, and atlas-driven frameworks, like iPain single-cell atlas of pain chronification and nociceptor senescence. Additional sources include studies on RNA editing mediator adenosine deaminase acting on RNA2 (ADAR2), clinical and translational evidence supporting miRNA biomarkers, and lncRNA axes (NEAT1/miR-183-5p; H19/miR-141) as tissue-specific regulatory nodes. Additionally, m6A epitranscriptomic modifications regulated by the METTL3/METTL14 writer complex and FTO/ALKBH5 erasers, with site-specific methylation of GRIN2B mRNA shown to upregulate GluN2B in dorsal horn neurons and augment central sensitization. These biomarkers also demonstrate potential utility as pharmacodynamic readouts in drug and neuro-modulation trials. Additionally, an emerging RNA workflow technology pathway leveraging rapid low-input RNA based assays was also explained. All evidence supports the idea that these biomarkers can provide complementary insight into the mechanisms underlying pain. Although current evidence supports the feasibility of RNA-based biomarkers as indicators of key biological processes, however, the current pain biology score remains at the theoretical model stage and has not been validated through <i>in vivo</i>, <i>in vitro</i> or clinical trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1874336"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422239/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148631930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in sleep disorders: current evidence and future directions.","authors":"Frédéric Roche, Mathilde Monier, Lytissia Mouhli Gasmi, Vincent Pichot","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1772166","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1772166","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1772166"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422412/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148631966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combining pulsed radiofrequency and low-temperature plasma ablation for refractory cervicogenic angina after percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report.","authors":"Xianting Cheng, Yifan Wang, Shaofan Yang, Juan Liu, Baishan Wu","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1854033","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1854033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cervicogenic angina is a frequently overlooked non-cardiac chest pain syndrome whose clinical manifestations closely resemble those of true cardiac angina, and conventional anti-anginal medications as well as coronary interventions often yield unsatisfactory results. This report describes a 61-year-old male patient who presented with recurrent precordial pain, chest tightness, dyspnea, and numbness of the neck, shoulders and upper extremities for one year. The patient was initially diagnosed with coronary artery disease and underwent coronary intervention, but symptoms recurred shortly after the procedure and sublingual nitroglycerin was ineffective. After cardiac causes were ruled out through specialized cardiac examinations, physical examination revealed positive paravertebral tenderness and signs of nerve root compression. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated disc herniation at C5-C7 with nerve root compression, leading to a final diagnosis of cervicogenic angina. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency of the cervical nerve roots and cervical sympathetic nerve combined with low-temperature plasma ablation of the cervical facet joints, followed by postoperative adjunctive treatment with duloxetine. Neck-shoulder pain and precordial discomfort improved markedly, with the visual analog scale score decreasing from 7 preoperatively to 0 at the 3-month follow-up; Cervical range of motion markedly improved; precordial pain, chest tightness, and dyspnea resolved completely without recurrence, and sleep quality improved significantly. This case suggests that cervicogenic angina should be strongly suspected in patients with recurrent chest pain after a standard cardiac work-up has excluded a cardiac origin. Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency intervention is safe and effective, providing a reliable minimally invasive treatment strategy for this easily missed condition and deserves wider clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1854033"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422520/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148633101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of phloroglucinol and diclofenac sodium on pain relief for renal colic due to ureteral stones: a single-center, prospective randomized trial.","authors":"Fangxin Gong, Guangfeng Shao, Xiulin Zhang, Mingzhen Yuan, Hanwen Liu","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1877482","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1877482","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Renal colic is considered one of the most severe types of pain and requires prompt and effective analgesia. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of phloroglucinol in treating acute renal colic, comparing it to diclofenac sodium alone and in combination with phloroglucinol. In this single-center, randomized controlled trial, participants with acute renal colic (visual analog scale [VAS] score >4) due to ureterolithiasis were enrolled. They were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive diclofenac sodium, phloroglucinol, or a combination of both. The primary outcome was the pain relief rate at 30 min after treatment-defined as the proportion of participants with a ≥ 50% reduction in VAS score from baseline. Of 363 screened participants, 258 were enrolled and completed the trial (86 per group). The primary outcome was significantly better in the diclofenac sodium group than in the phloroglucinol group (55.8% vs. 70.9%; OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28-0.97; <i>p</i> = 0.040). However, no significant difference was observed between the diclofenac group and the combination group (74.4% vs. 70.9%; OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.61-2.33; <i>p</i> = 0.608). Adverse events were significantly less frequent in the phloroglucinol group than in the other two groups. In conclusion, diclofenac sodium provides superior rapid pain relief and remains the optimal first-line treatment for acute renal colic. Overall, while it should not be used as a general alternative, phloroglucinol may be considered in patients in whom the use of NSAIDs is contraindicated. <b>Clinical Trial Registration:</b> https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=275717, ChiCTR2500104563.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1877482"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148633105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neonatal pain assessment and non-pharmacological analgesia: an integrative literature review.","authors":"Ronghua Yang, Xia Zhang","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1820044","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1820044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neonatal procedural and prolonged pain remains a frequent and clinically important problem in neonatal care, particularly among preterm and critically ill infants who undergo repeated invasive procedures.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To synthesize evidence on neonatal pain assessment tools and non-pharmacological analgesic strategies, with attention to clinical implementation and emerging objective or digital assessment approaches.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were searched for peer-reviewed English-language articles published from January 2000 to May 2025. Eligible studies included primary research, high-quality secondary evidence, and clinically relevant methodological or technological studies involving preterm or term neonates, defined as infants with a birth age of ≤28 days, or infants cared for in neonatal intensive care units. Studies were included if they addressed the development, validation, or clinical application of neonatal pain assessment tools, or the efficacy, safety, or implementation of non-pharmacological analgesic interventions. Studies limited to pharmacological analgesia, older children, or adults were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-five studies were included. The evidence supports the use of validated multidimensional assessment tools for structured evaluation of neonatal pain. It indicates that family-integrated, sensory, and behavioral non-pharmacological approaches can reduce procedural pain responses. However, the strength and consistency of evidence are greater for single procedures than for repeated or prolonged pain. Artificial intelligence-based facial expression analysis, physiological monitoring, and biomarker-based approaches show potential for more objective pain detection but remain insufficiently validated for routine bedside decision-making.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Standardized neonatal pain management should combine validated assessment scales, protocolized first-line non-pharmacological care, staff training, and parent involvement. Future research should prioritize repeated and prolonged pain, high-risk neonatal populations, implementation in routine neonatal intensive care practice, and the prospective validation of digital assessment systems in real-world clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1820044"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422498/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148633107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional brain connectivity correlates of pain relief during virtual reality exposure in cancer patients.","authors":"Somayeh B Shafiei, Saeed Shadpour, Oscar de Leon-Casasola","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1730496","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fpain.2026.1730496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Virtual reality (VR) has shown promise for pain relief, including in cancer-related contexts, yet its underlying neurophysiological correlates remain unclear. Understanding brain-based correlates is important for evaluating VR programs and informing personalized pain management. Functional connectivity reflects coordinated activity among pain-related brain regions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study examined associations between changes in functional connectivity and pain reduction during VR exposure using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in cancer patients with chronic neuropathic and/or somatic pain. In an IRB-approved study, 41 cancer patients underwent a VR distraction session using the Oceania application on a Meta Quest® headset. Continuous fNIRS signals focused on oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) were recorded. Pain intensity was assessed before and after VR using the FACES Pain Scale-Revised. Functional connectivity was estimated using coherence analysis, and associations with pain reduction were evaluated using Pearson correlation with false discovery rate correction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Extracted functional connectivity features showed significant negative correlations with pain reduction, particularly between channels spanning prefrontal cortex (PFC), bilateral parietal lobes [including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1)], and superior frontal gyrus (SFG). Strongest associations were observed between PFC and SFG (r = -0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.005), and within SFG (r = -0.42, <i>p</i> = 0.006). HbO activity at the PFC was significantly associated with pain reduction (r = -0.32, <i>p</i> = 0.044).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Decreased functional connectivity in specific cortical regions was observed in association with short-term pain reduction during VR exposure. Findings suggest that functional connectivity features may represent candidate neurophysiological correlates of pain changes in immersive VR contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"7 ","pages":"1730496"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13415936/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148622822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}