Noxious hot and cold stimulation produce common patterns of brain activation in humans: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI) to determine whether similar brain regions activate during noxious hot and cold stimulation. Six male subjects underwent whole brain fMRI during phasic delivery of noxious hot (46 degrees C) and noxious cold (5 degrees C) stimulation to the dorsu m of the left hand. Mid-brain regions activated included thalamus, basal ga nglia and insula. Cortical areas activated included cingulate, somatosensor y, premotor and motor cortices, as well as prefrontal and inferior parietal cortex. Most regions activated bilaterally but with stronger activation co ntralateral to the stimulus. Noxious cold stimulation produced significantl y increased volumes of activation compared to noxious heat in prefrontal ar eas only. Our results suggest a similar network of regions activate common to the perception of pain produced by either noxious hot or cold stimulatio n. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.