THE BRAIN AS A THERAPEUTIC TARGET IN HEADACHE AND FACIAL PAIN: THE NEXT FRONTIER IN PAIN MEDICINE AND HEALTH TECHNOLOGY

摘要

There is limited in vivo information available on the dysfunctional brain systems in headache and orofacial pain patients and how they directly respond to precise and non-invasive modulation.Currently an extensive array of technologies is available to investigate mechanisms in chronic pain, thereby immensely expanding our understanding of its pathophysiology. Herein, we aim to explain central molecular pain regulatory mechanisms such as in migraineurs and temporomandibular disorder patients. In addition, while understanding that central mechanisms in these patients using advanced neuroimaging is important, developing novel concepts for future clinical application is equally important. The neurotechnologies and studies described in this chapter represent a change of paradigm in pain medicine as we now directly can investigate and modulate in vivo the major central mechanisms associated with pain pathophysiology and relief.