The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Neuropsychology of pain: the perspective of embodiment and sociality
Language	J
AuthorList	Shu Morioka
Affiliation	Neurorehabilitation Reserch Center, Kio University Gladuate School of Health Sciences, Kio University
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 32 (3), 208-215, 2016
Received
Accepted
Abstract	Even orthopedic pain, when it becomes chronic, entails a distinct cerebral dysfunction. Chronic pain is defined as the "emotional and social aspects" or "cognitive evaluative component" of pain. The hyperactivity of the insula, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the medial frontal cortex regulates the emotional and social aspects of pain. Psychophysiological symptoms, such as depression, are caused by dysfunction of the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex induced by the hyperactivity observed in the aforementioned areas. Chronic pain is amplified by the co-occurrence of several psychophysiological symptoms. Moreover, when the parietal cortex becomes dysfunctional because of chronic pain, other symptoms, such as perceptual disorders, distorted bodily consciousness, and neglect-like syndrome, emerge. This is defined as the cognitive evaluative component of pain. This article describes the mechanisms underlying these types of pain and reviews the viable strategies for the relief of chronic pain.
Keywords	chronic pain, embodiment, sociality, neural mecanisms, rehabilitation