Updated · Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry · May 13
Joshua Hoddinott Links EEG Patterns to Lower Pain Levels in 20% Chronic Pain Challenge
Updated
Updated · Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry · May 13
Joshua Hoddinott Links EEG Patterns to Lower Pain Levels in 20% Chronic Pain Challenge
1 articles · Updated · Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry · May 13
March conference findings from Joshua Hoddinott showed people with a specific pre-pain EEG pattern combination were more likely to report lower pain after a brief laser pulse.
The study tracked brain activity before, during and after harmless induced pain, testing whether interactions among known pain-related signals could explain pain onset and recovery.
Hoddinott now aims to use EEG markers to flag patients at higher risk of persistent pain after events such as surgery, opening the door to earlier intervention.
Next-phase work will test whether non-invasive brain modulation, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, can shift targeted oscillations and alter pain perception.
Backed by Western's new Schulich Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, the research targets a condition that affects 20% of people worldwide yet remains comparatively understudied.
With brain stimulation's modest success, could new 'pain switch' discoveries in animals offer a more direct path to a cure?
If a 'pain-resistant brain' exists, can we train our minds to develop it before surgery to prevent chronic pain?
Can brainwaves truly predict future pain, or are they just a snapshot of a constantly changing and unpredictable mental state?
EEG Biomarkers and the Discovery of a "Pain-Resistant Brain State": Breakthroughs and Clinical Frontiers in Personalized Chronic Pain Management
Overview
At the 2026 kNOw-PAIN conference, Dr. Joshua Hoddinott presented groundbreaking research revealing a 'pain-resistant brain state.' By analyzing EEG brain wave patterns that appear in healthy individuals before a painful stimulus, his team found these patterns are linked to lower reported pain levels. This unique brain state, detectable by EEG, suggests some people are naturally more resilient to pain. The discovery opens new possibilities for early identification of those at risk for chronic pain, allowing researchers and clinicians to spot vulnerabilities or strengths in pain processing before chronic conditions develop.