Figure 4.

Significant differences in seed‐based functional connectivity in pediatric (acute and chronic) and adult chronic as compared with controls. (a) Plots of resting seed‐based functional connectivity from orbitofrontal cortex cluster, derived from pediatric acute and chronic gray matter density analysis. Note that compared with controls, acute patients have significantly greater functional connectivity strengths between the orbitofrontal cortex and the hippocampus. (b) Plots of resting seed‐based functional connectivity from ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus cluster, derived from pediatric chronic and healthy control gray matter density analysis. Note that compared with controls, pediatric chronic patients have significantly greater functional connectivity strengths between the ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus and the primary motor and somatosensory cortex. (c) Plots of resting seed‐based functional connectivity from anterior cingulate cortex and ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus clusters, derived from between adult chronic and healthy control gray matter density analysis. Note that compared with controls, adult chronic patients have significantly greater functional connectivity strengths between the anterior cingulate cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex, whereas ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus had reduced connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex. Note that no significant correlations were observed between these values and pain intensity or disease duration (p > .05) [Color figure can be viewed at http://wileyonlinelibrary.com]