Norepinephrine system at the interface of attention and reward.

Reward learning is key to survival for individuals. Attention plays an important role in the rapid recognition of reward cues and establishment of reward memories. Reward history reciprocally guides attention to reward stimuli.

Plastic change of prefrontal cortex mediates anxiety-like behaviors associated with chronic pain in neuropathic rats.

Clinical studies show that anxiety and chronic pain are concomitant. The neural basis for the comorbidity is unclear. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been recognized as a critical area for affective disorders and chronic pain modulation.