How past pain experiences affect future pain perception

Researchers at Heidelberg University have found that long-term associative fear memory stored in neuronal engrams in the prefrontal cortex determines whether a painful episode shapes pain experience later in life. The study outlines some of the neural mechanisms that could play a role in the perpetuation of pain over long periods of time resulting from the formation of fearful associative memories of past pain. The findings could potentially inspire the development of new therapeutic interventions for chronic pain manifestations that can be linked to previous painful experiences.