Luke Henderson

Professor Luke Henderson is a faculty member in the Department of Anatomy & Histology at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences. He is affiliated with the Brain and Mind Centre. His research focuses on central changes in acute and chronic pain, particularly exploring brainstem mechanisms and altered brain networks in chronic pain conditions. Current research includes investigating placebo analgesia, endogenous pain modulation, and the neural underpinnings of conditions like complex regional pain syndrome and spinal cord injury-related pain.

Key research interests span neurosciences, chronic pain, cardiovascular diseases, and spectroscopy. He supervises students studying topics such as chronic neuropathic pain mechanisms and spinal cord injury pathophysiology. His work has been published in high-impact journals like NeuroImage, Journal of Neuroscience, and Pain.

Publications highlight advancements in understanding pain modulation, brain imaging techniques, and translational pain research. His studies employ fMRI, PET imaging, and electrophysiological methods to dissect neural circuits involved in pain perception and autonomic regulation.

Professor Henderson collaborates widely, with research spanning neuroimaging standards for migraine, gut-brain interactions in pain, and the role of the hypothalamus in autonomic control.