Is reduced brain tissue conductivity a signature of pain?

Motivation: Evidence suggests that brain electrical conductivity is related to underlying brain activity. This might be impacted by pain. Goal(s): To determine the impact of spinal cord injury (SCI) or low back pain on brain tissue electrical conductivity. Approach: Conductivity maps were acquired from 29 controls, 32 with SCI and pain, 12 with SCI and no pain, and from 17 with back pain. Results: Electrical conductivity was significantly reduced in the corticospinal tracts, frontal white matter and cerebella in participants with SCI with pain or with back pain. Those with SCI and pain showed accelerated aging compared to controls. Impact: The decreased conductivity, particularly in the corticospinal tracts could be related to decreased physical activity or be a quantitative signature of chronic back pain as it is not seen in SCI patients without pain.