Most recent paper

J Pain Res. 2025 Sep 24;18:4975-4988. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S540502. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer is currently the most common malignant tumor, primarily affecting women, and it frequently leads to chronic pain that significantly impairs physical and mental health. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that breast cancer-related pain is associated with specific brain alterations, including changes in activation, connectivity, and structure of pain-processing regions. This review synthesizes findings on functional and structural brain changes related to chronic pain in breast cancer and compares them with non-cancer chronic pain patterns. By integrating recent evidence, it proposes a conceptual framework to advance the understanding of pain mechanisms and supports personalized pain management strategies to improve quality of life.

PMID:41030773 | PMC:PMC12477286 | DOI:10.2147/JPR.S540502

Brain Behav. 2025 Oct;15(10):e70899. doi: 10.1002/brb3.70899.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To explore the long-term efficacy and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes of lateral habenula nucleus (LHb) deep brain stimulation (DBS; LHb-DBS) for treatment-resistant bipolar disorder (TRBD).

METHODS: An 18-year-old woman with TRBD received bilateral LHb-DBS. We assessed changes in Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HDRS-17), Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale (BRMS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale (PSQI) scores from preoperative baseline to postoperative continuous 24-month follow-up. Brain activity and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) were examined off-stimulation at 0.6 and 15 months post-LHb-DBS. Overall improvement and adverse events were analyzed.

RESULTS: Continuous 24-month follow-up showed average improvements from baseline of 65.33%, 54.90%, 63.33%, and 48.72% for HDRS-17, BRMS, HAMA, and PSQI scores, respectively. At the final follow-up, improvement was 96.00%, 88.24%, 84.85%, and 69.23%, respectively. Resting-state fMRI results revealed an increase in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) within the putamen, ventral tegmental area (VTA), and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) over 15 months of continuous bilateral LHb stimulation when DBS was off. From baseline to 15 months, fALFF in the putamen, VTA, and SNc increased by 1.68%, 6.36%, and 1.10%, respectively. Consistently reduction in rsFC was observed between the left nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and left hippocampus. Over the 15 months of continuous stimulation, rsFC decreased by 72% from baseline.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term LHb-DBS can control symptoms and improve the quality of life in patients with TRBD. This may be attributed to an increase in fALFF in the putamen, VTA, and SNc, and a reduction in rsFC between the left NAcc and left hippocampus.

PMID:41030103 | PMC:PMC12484712 | DOI:10.1002/brb3.70899

BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Sep 30;25(1):895. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-07331-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) addiction is prevalent among adolescents, but its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the neural activity and functional connectivity characteristics associated with NSSI addiction using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

METHODS: A prospective collection of 62 adolescents was completed for this study, including 33 adolescents with self-injury behaviors and 29 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls. The addiction component of the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory (OSI) was used to assess the degree of NSSI addiction. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis was employed to detect changes in local neural activity. Differential brain regions were considered regions of interests (ROIs). Whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis based on ALFF was used to further explore potential changes in functional connections between ROIs and other brain areas in the NSSI group, and to analyze the relationship between these neural changes and addiction characteristics.

RESULTS: ALFF analysis revealed decreased ALFF values in the bilateral hippocampus and increased ALFF values in the right supplementary motor area of NSSI adolescents compared to healthy controls. Significantly reduced FC values was observed between the left hippocampus and the left precuneus, right middle temporal gyrus, and right inferior temporal gyrus, and between the right hippocampus and the right middle temporal gyrus. Additionally, increased FC values was observed between the left hippocampus and the left thalamus. Furthermore, ALFF values in the bilateral hippocampus were negatively correlated with the total score of addiction characteristics in NSSI adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights reduced local neural activity and functional connectivity in the bilateral hippocampus of NSSI adolescents, and demonstrates that these alterations are associated with heightened addictive features in self-injuring individuals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: A study of positive psychological group interventions in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (registration date: 03/01/2024; registration number: ChiCTR2400079412).

PMID:41029257 | PMC:PMC12486709 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-025-07331-z

Addict Behav. 2025 Sep 12;172:108494. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108494. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with internet gaming disorder (IGD) suffer from an imbalance of over-integrated and weakly dissociated functional brain networks. Approach bias modification training (ApBMt) has been used to correct patients' automatic approach biases to addictive stimuli; however, research exploring changes in brain network topology is limited.

METHODS: Seventy subjects were randomly assigned to the approach-avoidance task (AAT) group or the sham-AAT group, and 57 subjects (AAT, 30; sham-AAT, 27) completed the entire procedure, which included pretests, AAT/sham-AAT interventions, and posttests. Behavioral and resting-state fMRI data were collected before and after the tests. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ApBMt on topological changes in resting functional brain networks in patients with IGD and explore the relationship between these network changes and behavioral indicators of addiction severity.

RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA of the behavioral data showed that the AAT group had significant score reductions after ApBMt. Imaging data revealed significant decreases in brain network over-integration and increases in segregation of the fronto-parietal network (FPN) and the cingulo-opercular network (CON). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the post-pre difference in DSM-5 scores and the post-pre difference in nodal efficiency (Ne) in the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate that ApBMt effectively reduces the severity of IGD, along with associated changes in brain network topology, such as enhanced segregation and decreased over-integration. However, it is important to highlight that the neurobiological changes observed are correlated with the reduction in IGD severity, but causality cannot be established. Further research is necessary to better understand the clinical potential of ApBMt in treating IGD, either as a stand-alone intervention or in combination with other therapeutic approaches.

PMID:41027144 | DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108494

J Sick Cell Dis. 2025 Sep 18;2(1):yoaf031. doi: 10.1093/jscdis/yoaf031. eCollection 2025.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) often experience cognitive deficits and chronic pain, but the cerebral mechanisms underlying these symptoms remain unclear. Elevated cerebral blood flow (CBF) is a compensatory response to anemia, yet its impact on brain function and perception is not well understood.

OBJECTIVE: To examine alterations in cerebral perfusion and resting-state brain function in adults with SCD and their associations with cognition and pain sensitivity.

METHODS: Seven adults with SCD and 3 healthy controls underwent arterial spin labeling (ASL) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Metrics included global/regional CBF, resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC), and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF). Participants completed NIH Toolbox fluid cognition tests and the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ).

RESULTS: SCD patients exhibited significantly higher global CBF (72.1 vs. 47.2 mL/100g/min; P = .04), reduced cortical zALFF (P = .0013), and elevated white-matter zALFF (P = .0023). They also showed resting-state network hyperconnectivity, with diminished anti-correlations between the default mode and salience networks. SCD participants scored lower on processing speed (P = .02) and reported higher pain sensitivity (PSQ total, P = .0040). Higher CBF was associated with slower cognitive performance but not directly with pain sensitivity. Exploratory mediation models suggested that altered brain activity may partially mediate this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS: Adults with SCD demonstrate cerebral hyperperfusion, disrupted functional connectivity, and altered spontaneous brain activity, which may contribute to cognitive slowing and heightened pain sensitivity. These findings highlight the need for further research into brain-targeted therapies in SCD.

PMID:41024864 | PMC:PMC12476913 | DOI:10.1093/jscdis/yoaf031