Common and distinct neural representations of aversive somatic and visceral stimulation in healthy individuals

Different pain types may be encoded in different brain circuits. This study analyzed data from seven fMRI studies (N=165) and five types of pain and discomfort to establish and validate generalizable pain representations. An established multivariate brain measure, the Neurologic Pain Signature (NPS), was evaluated as a common nociceptive pain system. A multivariate classifier was developed to distinguish visceral from somatic pain. The NPS responded robustly across pain types, correlating with perceived intensity of visceral pain and showing specificity to pain compared to other conditions. The visceral versus somatic classifier reliably distinguished somatic from visceral stimulation. Results validate the NPS as measuring a common core nociceptive pain system and provide a new classifier for visceral versus somatic pain.

Lukas Van Oudenhove, Philip A. Kragel, Patrick Dupont, Huynh Giao Ly, Els Pazmany, Paul Enzlin, Amandine Rubio, Chantal Delon-Martin, Bruno Bonaz, Qasim Aziz, Jan Tack, Shin Fukudo, Michiko Kano, Tor D. Wager