The Brain and Pain: Breakthroughs in Neuroscience

Severe debilitating or chronic pain is a pathological condition that diminishes the quality of life. The Brain and Pain explores the present and future of pain management, providing a comprehensive understanding based on the latest discoveries from many branches of neuroscience. It explains how the nervous system and brain process information that leads to the experience of pain, and how pharmacological agents such as opiates affect the duration and intensity of pain. It also examines new evidence showing that discrete circuits in the brain modulate the experience of pain in response to placebo, fear, anxiety, belief, or other circumstances, and how pain can be relieved by activating these circuits using mindfulness training and other nonpharmacological treatments.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Pain is an inescapable aspect of existence, yet severe and debilitating chronic pain constitutes a pathological condition that profoundly diminishes an individual's quality of life. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of pain management in the present and future, The Brain and Pain delves into the latest discoveries from various branches of neuroscience. Richard Ambron, a former director of a renowned neuroscience lab that conducted pioneering research in this field, elucidates the science behind the sensation of pain. He explains how the nervous system and brain process information that culminates in the perception of pain, detailing the cellular and molecular mechanisms that initiate the initial sensations of an injury. Ambron also discusses the impact of pharmacological agents, such as opiates, on the duration and intensity of pain. Furthermore, he explores novel evidence revealing that specific brain circuits can modulate the experience of pain in response to placebo, fear, anxiety, belief, or other contextual factors. Additionally, the book evaluates the potential of procedures like deep brain stimulation and optogenetics in alleviating pain.

Current and comprehensive, The Brain and Pain offers invaluable insights for individuals seeking treatment options as well as students studying neuroscience and medicine. By unraveling the complexities of the brain's mechanisms in pain perception and modulation, this book provides a deeper understanding of pain management strategies and offers hope for those suffering from chronic pain.

Weight: 346g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231204873