# At the Intersection of Pain and Sleep: a Roadmap for Preclinical Pain Research

## TL;DR

This paper explores how pain and sleep affect each other and suggests ways to improve treatments for chronic pain and sleep disorders.

## Contribution

The paper offers a roadmap for preclinical research on the bidirectional relationship between pain and sleep.

## Key findings

- Over half of chronic pain patients suffer from sleep disorders.
- Poor sleep is a strong predictor of pain in clinical populations.
- The paper outlines preclinical methods and neural circuits involved in pain and sleep.

## Abstract

The complex relationship between pain and sleep has received increasing attention for its therapeutic potential. Over half of chronic pain patients suffer from sleep disorders, and poor sleep is a strong predictor for pain in clinical populations. Understanding the bidirectional relationship between pain and sleep is crucial for developing improved clinical treatment strategies. This review provides (1) a primer on preclinical methods used to measure sleep behaviors, (2) an overview of neural circuits at the intersection of pain and sleep, and (3) considerations for future pain and sleep investigations and treatment strategies.