SMRTR Science & EngineeringApr 19, 2026Scientific American

How your body and brain construct chronic pain

SMRTR summary

Pain scientist Rachel Zoffness explains that chronic pain, affecting 24% of U.S. adults, is constructed by the brain through biological, psychological, and social factors rather than just physical injury. Most medical schools lack dedicated pain courses, leading doctors to focus only on injured body parts while ignoring crucial factors like stress, sleep, and social connections that significantly impact pain experience.

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