Disclosed are methods for detecting pain in a subject, such as a mammal (e.g., a human), using brain activity, e.g., as determined by electroencephalography. The methods are useful for treating or reducing the likelihood of pain in a subject by determining power amplitude from the power spectral density of the waveforms and, e.g., administering a therapeutic agent to the subject. The methods disclosed herein may also be utilized to screen for a therapeutic agent that decreases power amplitude using a non-human animal subject. The methods also feature the stimulation of thalamic reticular nucleus of a subject to treat or reduce pain.
