Theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling in the dynamic pain connectome in healthy individuals and abnormalities in people with chronic pain

Journal of Neurophysiology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Ariana Seyed Makki, Kasey Sarah. Hemington, Anton Rogachov, Joshua C. Cheng, Rachel L. Bosma, Natalie Rae Osborne, Rima El-Sayed, Robert Davies Inman, Benjamin Thomas Dunkley, Karen Deborah Davis
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00492.2025
Cited by: 1
References: 52

Abstract

The experience of pain arises through the integration of information across brain regions and networks. Theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) reflects interactions between neuronal processes in the brain. We analyzed a previously published dataset to identify PAC of intrinsic brain activity in nociceptive processing/modulation regions and found sex-specific disruptions in people with chronic pain. This study implicates theta-gamma PAC as a means to shape nociception and PAC failures as a possible mechanistic contributor to chronic pain.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Pain Mechanisms and Treatments Functional Brain Connectivity Studies Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of Neurophysiology
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Volume
135
Issue
4
Pages
951–964
Publication date
1 April 2026
Language
EN