Fibromyalgia may be associated with a central nervous deficit in sensory processing, say scientists. In a new study, 31 fibromyalgia patients and normal subjects were exposed to random auditory and pressure stimuli.

The fibromyalgia subjects reported more sensitivity to auditory tones and daily sounds. Other significant associations between the auditory and pressure responses suggested that such abnormalities maybe related to a common pathophysiological mechanism.

Fibromyalgia subjects perceived auditory stimuli to be of the same intensity as felt by control subjects, even though their actual intensity levels were lower.

The Journal of Pain – June 2008;Epub.

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