Kameda T, et al. - Assuming the significance of determining the altered brain metabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) [using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)] in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients to ascertain the detailed pathology of CLBP and depression, researchers assessed the central difference between CLBP and controls by means of measuring the metabolites in the ACC. In addition, they sought for the correlations between depression and metabolites in ACC. Performing MRS in CLBP (n=60) and control participants (n=56) revealed lower N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels and higher glutamate +glutamine (Glx)/creatine and Glx/myoinositol ratios in the ACC of CLBP participants. As per results, the ACC of individuals with CLBP indicating a low NAA level reflects that excessive Glx could result in neuronal dysfunction and/or death. Using MRS, measurement of these metabolites could assist in evaluating CLBP patients’ condition and psychological status objectively.