Neuropharmacology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Morphine modifies the cingulate-operculum network underlying painful rectal evoked potentials.
The effect of opioids on brain networks underlying rectal evoked potentials (EPs) has never been investigated. This study utilized brain source connectivity to explore whether morphine induced changes in brain networks underlying painful rectal EPs would reflect changes in pain scores due to morphine. Twenty healthy volunteers were included in this placebo-controlled cross-over study. ⋯ A dominating cingulate-operculum network to rectal pain was seen. Cingulate source shifted anteriorly in the morphine arm (P < 0.001) and this shift was positively correlated to the change in the pain score (r = 0.6, P < 0.05). These findings indicate that visceral pain relief due to morphine is associated with reorganization within cingulate cortex, which may be used as a biomarker of opioid effects.