This is your brain in pain

[okarol]

An illustration shows differences in the brain between a healthy individual and one suffering chronic pain. The colors illustrate how much activation (red-yellow) or deactivation (dark/light blue) was found at each location. Brain scans of people in chronic pain show a state of constant activity in areas that should be at rest, researchers said on Tuesday, a finding that could help explain why pain patients have higher rates of depression, anxiety and other disorders.

REUTERS/Northwestern University/Handout

[KT0930]

When I was working on my BS in psychology several years ago, I did some research on ADHD. I find it interesting that in the picture above, one of the main areas that's deactivated (blue) in the healthy brain in the frontal lobe. This area is responsible for focus and attention and has been the focus of much research on ADHD, as well. This area being active in a brain of someone with chronic pain could also explain why those in constant pain have problems in other areas of life (work, relationships, etc.)