New Brain Signals Discovery Yields Objective Measure of Chronic Pain Intensity

Chronic pain now has an objective measure based on brain signals recorded over time using brain implants.
Specific low frequencies in the orbitofrontal cortex corresponded to patients' reports of pain severity.
The anterior cingulate cortex is more involved in acute pain, while chronic pain involves other brain areas.
The discovery of biomarkers for chronic pain could improve diagnosis and treatment like deep brain stimulation.
The study provides a foundation for developing treatments tailored to individual patients.