Scientists at Northwestern University have determined that patients' emotional responses to injury can indicate their risk for chronic pain, according to a Medical News Today report.
The study examined the brain scans of patients with new back injuries. Researchers found that among the patients who later experienced chronic pain, the fMRI scans showed a unique pattern in the area of the brain that handles emotional response.
The study suggests that brain scans may eventually be used to predict which patients have a higher risk for developing chronic pain, researchers said.
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The study examined the brain scans of patients with new back injuries. Researchers found that among the patients who later experienced chronic pain, the fMRI scans showed a unique pattern in the area of the brain that handles emotional response.
The study suggests that brain scans may eventually be used to predict which patients have a higher risk for developing chronic pain, researchers said.
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