Emerging Trends and Perspectives in the Neuroscience of Pain
A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensory and Motor Neuroscience".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 14
Special Issue Editors
Interests: chronic pain management; acute pain management; regional anaesthesia; anaesthesia
Interests: neurology; peripheral neuropathy; clinical neurophysiology; pain; medical education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Pain neuroscience is undergoing rapid transformation across multiple fronts—from novel neuroimaging advancements to innovative neuromodulation therapies. Cutting-edge functional MRI and electrophysiological techniques are enhancing early-detection capabilities, shedding light on both acute and chronic nociceptive pathways. These neuroimaging tools illuminate the neural circuits implicated in pain perception and modulation, enabling personalised insights into individual differences, placebo analgesia, and cognitive–emotional pain regulation.
Parallel progress in neuromodulation—such as transcranial and spinal stimulation—offers promising therapeutic alternatives to opioid and other invasive interventions. Both non‑invasive (e.g., tDCS, peripheral nerve stimulation, and pulsed radiofrequency) and invasive techniques demonstrate effective pain relief with reduced adverse effects. However, research continues to refine stimulation parameters, waveform engineering, and mechanistic understanding to optimise treatment efficacy across diverse populations.
This Special Issue welcomes original research, comprehensive reviews, and concise communications that address three core themes:
- Neuroimaging and neurophysiology breakthroughs—including fMRI, PET, and EEG—that map anatomical and functional substrates of pain;
- Neuromodulation advances—including studies of spinal, peripheral, and transcranial stimulation techniques and pulsed radiofrequency—aiming to modulate aberrant pain signalling;
- Foundational mechanisms—exploring synaptic plasticity, neural circuitry, and psychological and genetic contributors to persistent pain.
Together, these perspectives aim to deliver a richer mechanistic understanding and accelerate the development of safer, precise, mechanism-based diagnostics and treatments for chronic pain conditions.
Dr. Martina Rekatsina
Dr. Panagiotis Zis
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- neuroscience of pain
- neuroimaging techniques
- neuromodulation therapies
- pain mechanisms
- chronic pain
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.