Graph theory analysis reveals an assortative pain network vulnerable to attacks.

ABSTRACT: The neural substrate of pain experience has been described as a dense network of connected brain regions. However, the connectivity pattern of these brain regions remains elusive, precluding a deeper understanding of how pain emerges from the structural connectivity. Here, we employ graph theory to systematically characterize the architecture of a comprehensive pain network, including both cortical and subcortical brain areas. This structural brain network consists of 49 nodes denoting pain-related brain areas, linked by edges representing their relative incoming and outgoing axonal projection strengths. Within this network, 63% of brain areas share reciprocal connections, reflecting a dense network. The clustering coefficient, a measurement of the probability that adjacent nodes are conne

SUBMITTER: Chen C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10713541 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature