The mystery of fibromyalgia: when the brain amplifies ordinary sensationsFibromyalgia is a chronic condition affecting up to 5% of the population, characterized by widespread pain that does not appear in blood tests or MRI scans. The condition stems from a malfunction in how the central nervous system (CNS) processes signals; the brain amplifies ordinary sensations into pain, necessitating a specialized therapeutic approach. Photo: Anna Malayeva is licensed under Рubliс domain Human brain visualizationThe Mechanism of Pain PerceptionUnlike rheumatoid arthritis, where inflammation of vessels and joints is visible on imaging, fibromyalgia does not directly destroy body tissues. This causes ordinary touch or movement to be perceived as an electric shock or severe burn. Psychologist Nadezhda Osipova noted that chronic pain depletes psychological resources.