Takeaway
Functional connectivity features obtained shortly after mild traumatic brain injury can predict its transition to chronic pain, which may be due to injury-related primary sensorimotor cortical areas interacting with the mesolimbic and pain modulation systems.
Why this matters
The transition from acute to chronic pain is prevalent and difficult to predict, particularly in patients with mild traumatic brain injury; however, the nucleus accumbens and periaqueductal gray matter are regions of interest for chronic pain.
If chronic pain can be better predicted in patients with mild traumatic brain injury, then a predictive marker may be identified for future early preventative treatments.