Brain Imaging Shows how Pain Interferes with Concentration

July 9, 2007
by: Stephanie

When experiencing pain, the lateral occipital complex (LOC) part of the brain is affected, interfering with the person's ability to concentrate and accurately identify visual images, according to new research published in the July 5 issue of Neuron.

In the study, volunteers performed a cognitive task and a memory task, while a laser beam was applied to their hands to create pain. (I hope these volunteers were compensated!) An MRI scan of the volunteers' brain function during the task showed that the LOC part of the brain was engaged both during the tasks and the pain, as well as a second area of the brain that processes pain. The researchers inferred that this second area of the brain may interfere with the LOC's cognitive function and ability to recognize images when people are in pain.

For those of you dealing with chronic pain, if you can't finish a complete sentence without losing your train of thought it may not be just the pain medications - it may be how your brain is dealing with the pain. On the bright side, at least you have an excuse - I don't have chronic pain but still have trouble completing a thought. Now to go find someone to proofread this post before publishing it...

Posted by: Stephanie