Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D.

Clinical Focus

• Anesthesia
• Pain Management

Administrative Appointments

• Chief, Pain Management Division, Stanford University (2007 - present)
• Associate Professor, Anesthesia & Pain Management, Stanford University (2007 - present)
• Director, Stanford Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab (SNAPL) (2002 - present)
• Co-Director, Stanford Pain Research and Clinical Center (SPARCC) (2004 - present)
• Co-Director, Pain Working Group, Neuroscience Institute, Stanford University (2005 - present)
View All 8administrative appointments of Sean Mackey

Honors and Awards

• Learned Control of Frontal and Limbic Systems via Real-Time fMRI, NIH R21 DA026092 (2009-2011)
• fMRI of Pain in the Human Spinal Cord, NIH R01 NS053961 (2006-2010)
• Central Mechanisms of Urologic Pelvic Pain: Functional and Structural Analysis by MRI, NIH U01 DK082316 (2008-2010)
• Development and Applications of Real Time fMRI Technology, Stanford Bio-X (2009-2010)
• Prescription Opioid Use, Misuse, and Pain in Post-Surgical Patients, NIH K23 DA25152 (2008-2013)

Professional Education

Postdoctoral Advisees

Meredith Barad , Kevin Johnson , Jiang-Ti Kong

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Anesthesia
• Neurosciences
• Bioengineering

Web Site Links

• Stanford Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab

Current Research Interests

Virtual Reality and real-time fMRI
Applications of real-time fMRI Phase II
The goal of this study is to use real time imaging of the functions of the human brain to train patients to change activations in brain regions that control the experience of pain. Using fMRI, we are able to visualize activity taking place in brain areas involved in the perception and control of pain. By visually feeding back the subjects/patients own brain signal we are training them to learn how to control and change their pain experience. If successful, this allows patients to have greater control over their own pain. Several studies underway use fMRI to assess treatment and identify the most effective brain regions and cognitive strategies.
PIs: Drs. Sean Mackey, John Gabrieli, and Christopher deCharms

Cortical Restructuring in Patients with Chronic Pain
Recent research has demonstrated that chronic pain can induce changes in the brain that can amplify and maintain the pain experience. We are characterizing this phenomenon in patients with a variety of chronic pain conditions using a variety of neuroimaging techniques. We are following these preliminary studies with further investigations into the effects of treatment on reversing the brain changes induced by chronic pain.
PI: Dr. Sean Mackey

Cognitive Load and Perceived Pain Intensity
The aim of this study is to examine the role of attention in the experience of pain using a cognitive load task. We use various cognitive loads and thermal heat temperatures in order to determine how cognitive load can influence the experience of pain in both healthy and pain patients. By better understanding and characterizing this phenomena, we can design more effective therapies to help those with chronic pain.
PI: Dr. Sean Mackey

fMRI of the Human Cervical Spine
The way in which the brain processes pain is becoming better understood with the use of fMRI. However, significant processing of...

Clinical Trials

• Applications of Realtime fMRI Phase II Recruiting
• Effect of IV Lidocaine Infusions on Pain Recruiting
• Imaging study of chronic low back pain in patients taking pain medication Recruiting
• Study of T3 for the treatment of Fibromyalgia Recruiting
• Subcutaneous Botulinum Toxin for Cutaneous Allodynia Recruiting

Publications

• Fibromyalgia symptoms are reduced by low-dose naltrexone: a pilot study. Younger J, Mackey S. Pain Med. 2009 May-Jun; 10 (4): 663-72
• Forebrain pain mechanisms. Neugebauer V, Galhardo V, Maione S, Mackey SC. Brain Res Rev. 2009; 60 (1): 226-42
• Pain outcomes: a brief review of instruments and techniques. Younger J, McCue R, Mackey S. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2009; 13 (1): 39-43
• Spinal cord stimulation compared with medical management for failed back surgery syndrome. Coleman SD, Mackey S. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2009; 13 (1): 1-2
• Sympathetic block with botulinum toxin to treat complex regional pain syndrome. Carroll I, Clark JD, Mackey S. Ann Neurol. 2009; 65 (3): 348-51