Cerebral basis for the mental representation of pain

这项研究项目考察了心理表征背后的大脑机制，特别关注疼痛交流的神经行为决定因素。最近的研究表明，其他人对疼痛的感知依赖于观察者与疼痛相关的大脑网络的激活，这为同理心的神经模拟理论提供了一些支持。在这个研究项目中，功能成像方法被用来研究涉及对疼痛面部表情的感知和解释的大脑机制。实验将检验大脑对疼痛面部表情的反应，以及其他人对疼痛的感知对观察者疼痛敏感性的影响。其他研究将着眼于疼痛感知背后的大脑网络和涉及痛感时面部表情调节的运动网络之间的相互作用。这些研究将有助于理解疼痛交流的接受方和表现方的大脑机制。

This research program examines the brain mechanisms underlying the mental representation with a particular focus on the neurobehavioral determinants of pain communication. Recent studies have suggested that the perception of pain in others relies on the activation of pain-related brain networks in the observer, providing some support to a neural-simulation theory of empathy. Functional imaging methods are used in this research program to investigate the brain mechanisms involved in the perception and interpretation of the facial expression of pain. Experiments will be conducted examine brain responses to facial expressions of pain, and the impact of the perception of pain in other on pain sensitivity in the observer. Additional studies will look at the interactions between brain networks underlying pain perception and motor-networks involved in the regulation of facial expression when pain is felt. These studies will contribute to the understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying the receptive and expressive sides of pain communication.