Abnormal dynamics function network during pain-free period: a resting-state co-activation pattern analysis in primary dysmenorrhea

Motivation: Brain mechanisms for the pain of primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) patients pain remain unclear. Goal(s): To investigate dynamic brain functional networks in women with PDM during pain-free periods and explore the relationship between brain functional networks and the psycho-emotional states. Approach: Applied the CAP method to investigate the dynamic network connectivity characteristics of the brain in 59 PDM patients, as compared with 57 healthy controls. Results: The dynamic interaction of rs-fMRI brain networks in PDM patients were abnormal. The pain of PDM patients may related to the abnormal brain dynamic interaction of brain networks. Impact: This study provided new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying recurrent chronic pain. PDM patients exhibited atypical dynamic interactions within their brain networks during pain-free ovulation cycles, and these alterations corresponded to emotions related to pain.