Researchers develop world's first AI for objective pain assessment

Article excerpt

Researchers have created an artificial intelligence system that can objectively measure pain by analyzing brain signals. The technology reads electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns triggered by heat stimuli and classifies pain intensity without relying on a patient's subjective report. The breakthrough, published in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, could transform pain assessment in clinical settings, where doctors currently depend on patients describing their discomfort on numerical scales. The AI model trained on EEG data showed it can distinguish pain levels with measurable accuracy, potentially offering an objective diagnostic tool for conditions where patients cannot communicate or are suspected of exaggerating symptoms.