Figure 4

The difference in functional connectivity patterns in response to acute pain according to the BDNF genotype and its associations. The Val66Met (rs6265) polymorphism of the BDNF gene impacts the changes in FC in response to a cold pressor test in female fibromyalgia patients. Heatmaps presenting the difference in 7 min of resting-state functional connectivity assessed after and before a cold pressor test, in the Val/Val and Val/Met groups. The significant differences between groups of BDNF genotypes are presented with an asterisk. (A) Data regarding the Val/Val group. The blue edges between regions of interest represent a significant decrease in ΔFC between groups. (B) Data regarding the Val/Met group. The red edges represent a significant increase in ΔFC between groups. (C) Data associated with the Val/Met group. The Val/Met group presented a significantly ΔFC difference in response to acute pain in the cold pressor test, coupled with lower disability due to pain and performance associated with higher efficiency of the descending pain modulatory system assessed by the conditioned pain modulation test. The colored edges represent ΔFC values as indicated in the heatmap bar. BDNF brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Val/Val Val66Val homozygous. Val/Met Val66Met heterozygous. ΔFC functional connectivity delta-value. rs-FC resting state functional connectivity. PFC prefrontal cortex. MC motor cortex. -l left. -r right. *p < 0.05.