Disrupted Reward Processing in Chronic Pain: Neurobiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Session Title: Disrupted Reward Processing in Chronic Pain: Neurobiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

Topic: OTHER

More Specific: Physiology

Description of Workshop: Chronic pain is not only a sensory experience but also deeply affects the emotional and motivational systems of the brain. As individuals with chronic pain frequently experience symptoms including anhedonia, loss of motivation, and mood disturbances, the disruption of the brain’s mesocorticolimbic function has emerged as a key underlying mechanism of these symptoms. These affective and reward-related brain changes are further compounded by long-term opioid exposure and neuroinflammation. This workshop brings together international experts conducting cutting-edge research in human neuroimaging and preclinical neuroscience to explore how chronic pain alters brain reward systems and to identify novel therapeutic targets. Topics include pain-induced neuroinflammation, the role of kappa opioid receptors, the influence of long-term opioid and cannabinoid exposure, and the neural correlates of affective disruption in pain. By integrating mechanistic insights across species and disciplines, this session will offer new perspectives on the treatment of the emotional and motivational dimensions of chronic pain.

Neuroimaging Evidence for Reward System Dysfunction in Chronic Pain and Opioid Use
Dr. Martucci will present human fMRI data to demonstrate how chronic pain and long-term prescription opioid use alter the activity within key mesolimbic regions involved in reward and motivation, such as the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. These neuroimaging results provide critical insight into how chronic pain relates to diminished reward responsiveness and to affective symptoms.

Loss of Positive Emotion and Motivation in Chronic Pain: Timing, Mechanisms, and Modulation by Opioids and Cannabinoids
Dr. Flor will discuss differences in affective and motivational processing between individuals with subacute and chronic pain, focusing on the transition to a state marked by reduced positive emotion. She will explore how endogenous and exogenous opioids and cannabinoids influence these affective changes, with implications for developing targeted interventions aimed at restoring motivational function.

Pain-Induced Neuroinflammation in the Mesocorticolimbic System and Its Behavioral Consequences
Dr. Lucía Hipólito will present preclinical findings on how persistent pain leads to neuroinflammatory responses in mesocorticolimbic brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex and ventral tegmental area. Her research links glial activation and cytokine signaling to behavioral consequences such as anhedonia and mood disturbances, revealing a biological pathway through which chronic pain alters emotional states.

Targeting the kappa opioid receptor in the mesolimbic pathway to prevent pain-induced anhedonia
Dr. Jose Morón-Concepción will present preclinical studies identifying the kappa opioid receptor system as a key modulator of negative affect in the context of chronic pain. His research highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting kappa opioid signaling to treat affective disturbances associated with chronic pain, while avoiding the addictive liabilities of traditional opioid therapies.

Interactive Panel Discussion with Audience Participation: To conclude the workshop, all four speakers will participate in a live, moderated panel discussion. This interactive segment will engage the audience in a dialogue on translational challenges, emerging therapeutic targets, and clinical implications of altered reward processing in chronic pain. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share perspectives, and contribute to an open conversation aimed at advancing interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration in this evolving area of pain research.

Speakers