Distinct fMRI patterns colocalized in the cingulate cortex underlie the after-effects of cognitive control on pain

• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116898
• Publication Date: 2020-05-04T01:27:58Z
• Authors: Nicolas Silvestrini; Jen-I Chen; Mathieu Piché; Mathieu Roy; Etienne Vachon-Pr...; Choong-Wan Woo; Tor D. Wager; Pierre Rainville
• Keywords: Cingulate cortex; Stroop effect

Demanding tasks can influence following behaviors but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we used multivariate pattern analyses (MVPA) to compare patterns of brain activity associated with pain in response noxious stimuli administered after a task requiring cognitive control (Stroop) and evaluate their interaction based on mediation analysis model. We found that performing difficult leads subsequent increases pain-related responses across within anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC). Moreover, an aMCC predictive performance was further reactivated during predicted ensuing responses. This suggests interactions between distinct partly co-localized neural networks executive pain. These findings offer new perspective role cingulate cognition provide promising framework investigate dynamical overlapping networks.