A method for measuring indices of brain activity includes non-invasively obtaining
signals of central nervous system (CNS) activity, localizing signals to specific
anatomical and functional CNS regions, correlating the signals from pain and reward
brain regions, and interpreting the correlation results. The results of interpreting
the correlation results can be used for objectively measuring, in individual humans
or animals, their responses to motivationally salient stimuli including but not
limited to stimuli which are internal or external, conscious or non-conscious,
pharmacological or non-pharmacological therapies, and diseased based processes.
This method for measuring brain activity in reward/aversive central nervous system
regions, can further be used to determine the efficacy of compounds.
