Pain as neurobiological surprise: Using human brain imaging and animal studies to advance new concepts in persistent pain.

Project Code

MRCNMH26Ca Tackley

Project Type

Wet lab

Research Theme

Neuroscience and Mental Health

Project Summary Download

Summary

Complex nervous systems attempt to minimise surprise and aid survival by forming predictions about the world. Surprise signals danger: it is evidence that the future was poorly predicted. Short-term (acute) pain has a lot in common with surprise. We propose that pain too signals a poorly predicted future, specifically poorly predicted damage.

Using human neuroimaging and rodent studies, this project will explore conscious and unconscious predictions, asking whether a reconceptualisation of pain as surprising damage is valid. For some individuals, pain networks malfunction causing persistent (chronic) pain and we believe our reconceptualisation could revolutionise the understanding of this debilitating state.

Lead Supervisor

Dr George Tackley

Lead Supervisor Email

tackleyg@cardiff.ac.uk

University Affiliation

Cardiff