# Clearing the Fog: Characterization of the Phenotypic and Neurophysiological Features of Cognitive Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2024 · $168,438

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Pain in the United States is common and costly, with over 1 in 3 individuals being afflicted, causing an
economic burden approaching $600 billion annually. Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by widespread chronic
pain and co-morbid symptoms of psychological disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive symptoms
are particularly distressing and one of the most disabling aspects reported by patients. Neuroimaging
techniques, such as electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have
identified central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms affecting the brain in these individuals, contributing to
their ongoing pain. Objective cognitive impairments and subjective complaints have been consistently identified
in FM; however, there remains a common discrepancy between subjective and objective findings in the
literature and there is scarce information as to the relationship with observed CNS mechanisms. Therefore, a
more comprehensive evaluation of this issue is needed. Furthermore, there remains a lack of sensitive clinical
biomarkers pertaining to the nature of cognitive complaints in FM, the development of which is a vital next step
towards effective interventions. To date, no study has systematically sought to understand cognitive
dysfunction in FM by combining neuropsychological assessments, patient-reported measures, and
neurophysiological (EEG) aspects. This empirical gap highlights a timely opportunity to understand and
address a potential avenue for thorough understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of cognitive symptoms in FM.
 The proposed project and closely aligned training plan will fill this empirical gap by comparing subjective and
objective cognitive assessments between individuals with FM and healthy controls. We will also use EEG to
evaluate the neurophysiological features underlying cognitive dysfunction in FM and relationships with clinical
outcomes using a cognitive paradigm shown to be sensitive to preclinical cognitive impairments. We will build
from the robust framework of the Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center and an ongoing NCCIH-
funded R01 to the primary mentor, Dr. DaSilva, to recruit a well characterized study sample and add a
thorough examination of cognition. Specifically, we will use a cross-sectional design to assess subjective and
objective cognitive functioning as well as the influence of co-morbid symptoms in FM on the relationship
between objective and subjective elements (Aim 1). We will also utilize EEG to identify neural biomarkers of
cognitive dysfunction based on performance on a memory task (Aim 2). Finally, as an exploratory aim (Aim 3)
we will analyze fMRI data in a subset of the FM sample to evaluate the relationship between brain responses
to pain and cognitive symptoms. The proposed training in FM, application of statistics to self-report measures,
neuroimaging, and training in interventional approaches to guide future research (i.e., neuromodulat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10861485
- **Project number:** 1K23AR084051-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Anson Kairys
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $168,438
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10861485

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10861485, Clearing the Fog: Characterization of the Phenotypic and Neurophysiological Features of Cognitive Dysfunction in Fibromyalgia (1K23AR084051-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10861485. Licensed CC0.

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