Open AccessDiscriminating neural representations of physical and social pains: how multivariate statistics challenge the “shared representation” theory of pain
Author(s) -
Anton Rogachov,
JuiChing Cheng,
Danielle D. DeSouza
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of neurophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 245
eISSN - 1522-1598
pISSN - 0022-3077
DOI - 10.1152/jn.00075.2015
Subject(s) - multivariate statistics , representation (politics) , psychology , multivariate analysis , cognitive psychology , statistics , computer science , artificial intelligence , mathematics , politics , political science , law
Overlapping functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity elicited by physical pain and social rejection has posited a common neural representation between the two experiences. However, Woo and colleagues (Nat Commun 5: 5380, 2014) recently used multivariate statistics to challenge the "shared representation" theory of pain. This study has implications in the way results from fMRI studies are interpreted and has the potential of broadening our understanding of different pain states and future development of personalized medicine.