Nicholas Fallon

Senior lecturer in Psychology, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool

Main research interests

My principle research interest remains the neuroscience of chronic pain, which often exhibits poor treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction despite it's high prevalence and a large socio-economic burden. I am particularly interested in fibromyalgia syndrome, a chronic pain disorder which primarily affects females of middle age. My current work includes collaborations with colleagues from the Pain Research Institute in Liverpool, The Walton Centre and collaborators at Kings College London and University of Manchester. Together, we utilise a multi-modal approach to investigate potential mechanisms underlying the experience of chronic pain and accompanying symptoms in a wide range of clinical conditions. I also work with clinical colleague on projects investigating brain stimulation techniques for pain relief, as well as novel treatment approaches for central post-stroke pain and functional impairment.

Biography

I completed my PhD at the University of Liverpool using brain imaging techniques to analyse brain function and structure in a group of chronic pain patients. Since this time, I have continued to utilise structural and functional MRI methodologies and electroencephalography in a wide range of neuroscience projects with clinical and academic colleagues as well as developing a cross-disciplanry sensory neuroscience program with researchers from Unilever Research and Development UK.

Selected publications

Fallon, N., Roberts, C., & Stancak, A. (2020). Shared and distinct functional networks for empathy and pain processing: A systematic review and meta-analysis of fmri studies. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 15(7), 709-723. doi:10.1093/scan/nsaa090

Fallon, N., Chiu, Y., Nurmikko, T., & Stancak, A. (2017). Altered theta oscillations in resting EEG of fibromyalgia syndrome patients. European Journal of Pain, 22(1), 49-57. doi:10.1002/ejp.1076