The Brain in Pain: Exploring Central Pain Disorders.

Authors

Keith Polston, Francesco Maoli, Meron Selassie, Ameet Nagpal

Published in

Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America. Volume 37. Issue 3. Pages 493-507. Epub Jun 04, 2026.

Abstract

Central pain syndromes arise from direct damage to, or dysfunction of, the central nervous system. This article traces the advances of pain theory from early human history to modern medical models. It distinguishes between central pain syndromes, centralization, and nociplastic pain. Relevant neuroanatomy and physiology for pain pathways and related neurotransmitters are discussed. Key pathologies, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury are explored in the context of central pain. The diagnostic approaches available, along with clinical therapies from conservative care to surgical management, are discussed along with future direction for research and potential advances on the horizon.

PMID:
42379697
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 01 Jul 2026.

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