The investigators note that previous research has shown that patients with fibromyalgia can have increased neural activity in the insula of the brain - a region associated with processing pain and emotion.
Research has also shown that heightened activity in the insula could be linked to increased levels of glutamate - a stimulative neurotransmitter in the brain.
Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers found that pregabalin, commercially known as Lyrica, partly works by reducing glutamate concentration in the insula - which the researchers say is consistent with animal studies.
Furthermore, it was found that alongside decreased glutamate concentration, there were reductions in insula connectivity and patients' rating of clinical pain.