Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia. Functional magnetic resonance imaging findings in fibromyalgia

David A Williams¹^,2 and Richard H Gracely¹^,3

¹Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

²Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

³Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan and Ann Arbor VAMC, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

author email corresponding author email

Arthritis Research & Therapy 2006, 8:224doi:10.1186/ar2094


Published:	17 January 2007

Abstract

Techniques in neuroimaging such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have helped to provide insights into the role of supraspinal mechanisms in pain perception. This review focuses on studies that have applied fMRI in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the processing of pain associated with fibromyalgia. This article provides an overview of the nociceptive system as it functions normally, reviews functional brain imaging methods, and integrates the existing literature utilizing fMRI to study central pain mechanisms in fibromyalgia.