Pain Neuroimaging

Upcoming Events and Resources

fMRI Methods Town Hall – Everything you wanted to know about using pain & sensory stimulation in the MRI scanner environment

This event was an informative session on fMRI methods and the use of pain and sensory stimulation in the MRI scanner environment. The town hall featured presentations from leading experts, who shared practical knowledge that could be applied to research. Dr. Daniel Harper (Emory) shared insights on QST Labs and Medoc equipment, focusing on specific equipment models, their setup, and optimal use in the scanner environment. Drs. Dario Pfyffer and Merve Kaptan (Stanford University) discussed other modalities in the scanner environment, such as fully automated cold pressor, TS, and mechanical pressure pain. Dr. Arvina Grahl (Harvard University) provided insights on assessing responses to pain stimuli using pressure cuffs in a scanner. Dr. Massieh Moayedi (University of Toronto), an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Pain NeuroImaging, shared extensive knowledge on pain neuroimaging, incorporating multiple stimulation devices and brain imaging modalities. Listen Here

Join us to hear from Dr. Vince Calhoun (Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Emory) and Dr. Andrew Michael (Duke University). Dr. Vince Calhoun will cover the basics though advanced techniques for using functional connectivity and network neuroscience methods to analyze neuroimaging data, and Dr. Andrew Michael will provide a recently published example of applying these methods to pain research.   An Introduction to Data-driven Functional (Network) Connectivity Speaker: Vince Calhoun, PhD, Distinguished University Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Director of Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS) at Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory    Enhanced Motor Network Engagement during Reward Gain Anticipation in Fibromyalgia Speaker: Andrew Michael PhD, Director of Imaging Analytics and Informatics, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University  Paper Details: Enhanced motor network engagement during reward gain anticipation in fibromyalgia.  Park SH, Michael AM, Baker AK, Lei C, Martucci KT. Cortex. 2024 Apr;173:161-174.  PMID: 38417389; PMCID: PMC10963137. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.12.017.

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The Pain and Neuroimaging SIG will met on January 30th at 4pm ET. This meeting featured presentations from Dr. Etienne Vachon-Presseau and Dr. Adam Thomas, PhD. Information about both speakers and their presentations can be found below. 

Adam Thomas, PhD leads the Data Science and Sharing Team at the National Institute of Mental Health’s Intramural Research Program. The team mission is to support and advance the creation, distribution, and utilization of large, open datasets to accelerate discovery. The team provides tools and training to help scientists embrace open and reproducible science practices. This includes standardized; community recognized formats and repositories for data storage and dissemination, collaborative, version controlled tools for developing analysis code, and open distribution of all experimental methods and results to maximize impact and reproducibility. In this presentation Dr. Thomas will provide a brief overview of the past, present, and future of neuroimaging data sharing repositories as well as the challenges the field faces in achieving wide adoption of data sharing.

Etienne Vachon-Presseau, PhD is an Assistant Professor and Faculty of Dentistry at McGill University.

Title: New insights for chronic pain using large publicly available datasets.

Substantial scientific progress has been observed due to publicly available large datasets. I will first discuss data-driven models applying machine learning algorithms on self-report questionnaires to derive a pain risk score predictive of different pain conditions, spreading of pain, medical conditions, use of opioids, disability, and other comorbidities. I will then provide specific examples of brain-based biomarkers derived in the UK Biobank for different pain conditions, insisting on the limitations of the approach for personalized medicine. Yet, I will still argue that brain-based biomarkers studied across a wide range of pain-related medical conditions are informative to better understand and characterize chronic pain syndromes.

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Past SIG meeting - January 30th at 4pm ET (speaker bios)

Members can watch a recording of this meeting here.