MULTIMODAL MRI REVEALS MICROSTRUCTURAL BRAIN ALTERATIONS CORRELATING WITH PERSONALITY TRAITS IN CHRONIC PAIN
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Keywords
Chronic neuropathic pain, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Personality temperament, Brain microstructure
Abstract
Extensive damage to this brain area is known to affect a person’s personality. Subtle differences in the prefrontal cortex that are linked to lasting pain and have only become visible through advanced scans might also contribute to distinctive shifts in a person’s personality. When a chronic neuropathic pain animal model was studied, minor changes in the prefrontal cortex such as differences in basal dendritic length, linked to difficulties in making decisions. Our studies combining various types of magnetic resonance imaging in living subjects showed that gray matter volume and brain signals were stable, yet chronic neuropathic pain decreased the movement of protons, reflecting subtle changes in the medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and mediodorsal thalamus. Proton spectroscopy suggested that the medial prefrontal cortex had increased functional integrity in people who experience neuropathic pain and this change was strongly related to their degree of novelty seeking. The results indicate that very minor alterations in the prefrontal cortex can change personality in important ways.
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Dr C Rathiga
Assistant Professor, Prathima Relief Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunur, Karimnagar- 505417, India
Dr V Sujatha
Associate Professor, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India
Perugu Santhoshi
Assistant Professor, Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India