Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1.
Localization of DA D2 receptor activation during pain in humans. Areas of significant activation of DA D2 neurotransmission during pain, superimposed over an anatomical MRI in coronal views. The left image shows the activation attributable to pain signal (pain − saline control subtraction), localized in the dorsal nucleus caudate and putamen. The magnitude of activation is correlated with sensory and pain affect ratings of the pain. The right image depicts the signal remaining from the activation of DA D2 neurotransmission during pain after pain-specific elements are subtracted: (baseline − pain) − (saline control − pain). The latter is localized in the nucleus accumbens region and associated with the internal negative affective state experienced during pain.
- Figure 2.
Correlations between activation of DA D2 neurotransmission during pain and the volunteer's subjective ratings. A, Significant correlation between the pain-specific activation of dorsal caudate DA D2 neurotransmission (percentage reductions in D2 receptor BP from saline control to pain) (SCBP – PBP % Change) and MPQ sensory subscale scores ratings (r = 0.57; p < 0.05). B, Significant correlation between the activation of nucleus accumbens DA D2 neurotransmission during nonspecific elements of pain stress [(baseline − pain) − (saline control − pain subtraction), shown as (BLBP − PBP) − (SCBP − PBP) on the figure] and enhancements in the negative affective state of the volunteers during pain as measured by the PANAS negative affect subscale ratings (Δ PANAS Negative) (r = 0.64; p < 0.01).
