The SERNA Conceptual Standard for the Neurobiology of Chronic Pain: Definitions, Relationships, and Theoretical Integration (SCS-CPN)

Chronic pain is a complex, multidimensional experience that remains one of the most significant challenges in modern medicine and neuroscience. Despite extensive research, the field is characterized by significant terminological fragmentation, particularly regarding the distinction between nociception, acute pain, and chronic centralized pain. This document presents the SERNA Conceptual Standard for the Neurobiology of Chronic Pain (SCS46), a unified theoretical framework designed to standardize definitions and model the causal pathways of pain chronification. SCS46 establishes 12 canonical terms (SCS46-T01 through T12) that strictly differentiate between sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational components of pain, as well as the mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitization. The standard introduces the Dynamic Pain Connectome (DPC) model, which incorporates 10 testable hypotheses (SCS46-H01 through H10) mapping the bi-directional relationships between the periphery, the spinal cord, and the cortical "pain matrix." By resolving 8 documented field inconsistencies—such as the role of the "Pain Matrix" as a specific or non-specific marker—SCS46 provides a rigorous foundation for cumulative science in pain research, facilitating the development of more effective, personalized therapeutic interventions.