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Zu Y, Zhang Z, Hao Z, Jiang Z, Chen K, Wang Y, Zou C, Ge L, Yu Q, Zheng F, Wang C. Changes in brain structure and function during early aging in patients with chronic low back pain. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1356507. [PMID: 38912520 PMCID: PMC11190087 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1356507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the structural and functional changes in cognition-related brain regions in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) at earlier ages, and explore the impact of the interaction between CLBP and age on the brain. Methods Seventy-six patients with CLBP were recruited and divided into "younger" age group (20-29 years, YA), "middle" age group (30-39 years, MA), and "older" age group (40-49 years, OA). All patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as well as clinical psychological and pain-related symptoms assessments. Results Structural analysis showed that patients in OA group had lower gray matter (GM) volumes in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) bilaterally and the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) compared to YA group. The resting-state brain activity analysis showed that amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values in the bilateral postcentral gyrus and left ventral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were significantly different in the OA group. The functional connectivity (FC) in the right ventral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the right insula was significantly decreased in the OA group compared to the YA and MA groups. Likewise, the FC in the left caudal parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and left inferior parietal lobule (IPL) were significantly lower in the MA and OA groups compared to the YA group. In addition, both the structural properties and the FC values of these brain regions were significantly correlated with age. Conclusion This preliminary study concludes that CLBP affects the aging process. The synergistic effects of CLBP and aging accelerate the functional and structural decline of certain areas of the brain, which not only affects pain processing, but are also may be associated with cognitive declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhou Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zengming Hao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zimu Jiang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke Chen
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu Wang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Changcheng Zou
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Le Ge
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiuhua Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuming Zheng
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuhuai Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Cardoso S, Fernandes C, Barbosa F. Attentional deficits in fibromyalgia: an ERP study with the oddball dual task and emotional stroop task. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:104. [PMID: 38424648 PMCID: PMC10902965 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01601-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the neural correlates of attentional deficits in fibromyalgia through an Oddball Dual Task and an Emotional Stroop Task, both performed during EEG recordings. Thirty female participants were recruited, being divided into two groups: a group of patients with fibromyalgia (FM, n = 15, Mage = 51.87, SDage = 7.12) and a healthy control group (HC, n = 15, Mage = 46.13, SDage = 8.41). In the Emotional Stroop Task, the behavioural results showed that patients with FM had less hits and longer times reactions than healthy controls. These results were consistent with those obtained with our Event-related Potential (ERP) methodology, which evidenced that patients with FM had higher frontal latencies in the P200 time-window compared to healthy controls. Regarding the Oddball Dual Task, we found that patients with FM had lower P300 amplitudes than healthy participants. Moreover, we found that rare stimuli elicited higher P300 amplitudes than frequent stimuli for healthy controls, but this comparison was non-significant for patients with FM. Taken together, our results suggest that fibromyalgia may be associated to a reduced processing speed, along to reduced neural resources to process stimuli, mainly in distinguishing relevant (rare) and irrelevant (frequent) stimuli according to the goals of the task. Altogether, our results seem to support the hypothesis of generalized attentional deficits in FM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Cardoso
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, Avenida Carlos de Oliveira Campos-Castêlo da Maia, 4475-690, Maia, Portugal.
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carina Fernandes
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) & RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Fradera A, McLaren J, Gadon L, Cullen B, Evans J. Does the presence of chronic pain affect scores on cognitive screening tests/brief cognitive measures for dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Neuropsychol 2024:1-24. [PMID: 38369508 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2024.2315739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive screening tests can identify potential dementia by indicating a concerning level of cognitive impairment. The older populations for whom this is most relevant are more likely to experience chronic pain, which also impairs cognitive function, but pain's impact on cognitive screening tests specifically remains unknown. METHOD We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (SR/MA) following PRISMA guidelines evaluating cognitive screening scores in studies involving participants with chronic pain compared with a pain-free control group. Our question was whether the presence of chronic pain (self-reported or based on diagnosis) was associated with poorer performance on these screens, and to identify the heterogeneity across groups and screens. RESULTS The 51 studies identified yielded 62 effect size estimates. The pooled g was 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.95). Heterogeneity was high for the full model (= 93.16%) with some reductions in sub-analyses. Around half of the studies were identified as being at a low risk of bias. There was no evidence of publication bias. CONCLUSIONS As a whole, this analysis suggests medium to large effect sizes on cognitive screen performance when people are living with chronic pain. We suggest that clinicians should consider the effect of chronic pain when cognitive screens are employed to investigate dementia. Further research could clarify the effect pain has on different screen sub-domains to aid their effective use with these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fradera
- School of Health & Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Lisa Gadon
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Breda Cullen
- School of Health & Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jonathan Evans
- School of Health & Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Ariza M, Cano N, Segura B, Bejar J, Barrué C, Cortés CU, Junqué C, Garolera M. Cognitive and emotional predictors of quality of life and functioning after COVID-19. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024; 11:302-320. [PMID: 38130039 PMCID: PMC10863915 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A long-term decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been reported after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Studies with people with persistent symptoms showed inconsistent outcomes. Cognition and emotion are important determinants in HRQoL, but few studies have examined their prognostic significance for HRQoL and functionality in post-COVID patients with persisting symptoms. We aimed to describe QoL, HRQoL, and functioning in individuals post-COVID with varying COVID-19 severities and to investigate the predictive value of cognitive and emotional variables for QoL, HRQoL, and functioning. METHODS In total, 492 participants (398 post-COVID and 124 healthy controls) underwent a neurobehavioral examination that included assessments of cognition, mood, QoL/HRQoL (WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D), and functioning (WHODAS-II). Analysis of covariance and linear regression models were used to study intergroup differences and the relationship between cognitive and emotional variables and QoL and functioning. RESULTS The Physical and Psychological dimensions of WHOQoL, EQ-5D, and WHODAS Cognition, Mobility, Life Activities, and Participation dimensions were significantly lower in post-COVID groups compared with a control group. Regression models explaining 23.9%-53.9% of variance were obtained for the WHOQoL-BREF dimensions and EQ-5D, with depressive symptoms, post-COVID symptoms, employment status, income, and mental speed processing as main predictors. For the WHODAS, models explaining 17%-60.2% of the variance were obtained. Fatigue, depressive symptoms, mental speed processing, and post-COVID symptoms were the main predictors. INTERPRETATION QoL/HRQoL and functioning after COVID-19 in individuals with persistent symptoms were lower than in non-affected persons. Depressive symptoms, fatigue, and slower mental processing speed were predictors of lower QoL/HRQoL and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mar Ariza
- Grup de Recerca en Cervell, Cognició i ConductaConsorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST)TerrassaSpain
- Unitat de Psicologia Mèdica, Departament de MedicinaUniversitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Neus Cano
- Grup de Recerca en Cervell, Cognició i ConductaConsorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST)TerrassaSpain
- Departament de Ciències BàsiquesUniversitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC)Sant Cugat del VallèsSpain
| | - Bàrbara Segura
- Unitat de Psicologia Mèdica, Departament de MedicinaUniversitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Institut de NeurociènciesUniversitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Javier Bejar
- Departament de Ciències de la ComputacióUniversitat Politècnica de Catalunya‐BarcelonaTechBarcelonaSpain
| | - Cristian Barrué
- Departament de Ciències de la ComputacióUniversitat Politècnica de Catalunya‐BarcelonaTechBarcelonaSpain
| | - Claudio Ulises Cortés
- Departament de Ciències de la ComputacióUniversitat Politècnica de Catalunya‐BarcelonaTechBarcelonaSpain
| | - Carme Junqué
- Unitat de Psicologia Mèdica, Departament de MedicinaUniversitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Institut de NeurociènciesUniversitat de Barcelona (UB)BarcelonaSpain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Maite Garolera
- Grup de Recerca en Cervell, Cognició i ConductaConsorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST)TerrassaSpain
- Neuropsychology UnitConsorci Sanitari de Terrassa (CST)TerrassaSpain
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Zhao Q, Wan H, Pan H, Xu Y. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction-current research progress. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1328790. [PMID: 38357422 PMCID: PMC10865506 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1328790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) commonly occurs after surgery, particularly in elderly individuals. It is characterized by a notable decline in cognitive performance, encompassing memory, attention, coordination, orientation, verbal fluency, and executive function. This reduction in cognitive abilities contributes to extended hospital stays and heightened mortality. The prevalence of POCD can reach 40% within 1 week following cardiovascular surgery and remains as high as 17% 3 months post-surgery. Furthermore, POCD exacerbates the long-term risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As a result, numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying POCD and potential preventive strategies. This article provides a review of the research progress on POCD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hui Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiquan Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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Schmidt J, Fritz M, Weisbrod M. Relevance of neurocognition in chronic pain syndrome: a systematic and methodical approach. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2023; 45:874-889. [PMID: 38406973 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2024.2314732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Subjective and objective deficits in neurocognitive domains are well-documented in patients with chronic pain. However, neurocognitive deficits have not been investigated consistently. The main objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of self-rated and objectively assessed cognitive differences between patients with chronic pain (CP) and healthy controls (HC). METHOD The cognitive functioning of 40 CP and 41 HC was assessed using a standardized computer-based test battery, enabling a comparison of subjective and objective neurocognitive factors. To achieve this, the Vienna Test System (VTS) was utilized, incorporating standardized tests from the Cognitive Basic Assessment Battery (COGBAT) with the advantage of objectivity, reliability, validity, efficiency, utility, and standardization. This approach enables the evaluation of cognitive functioning across all pertinent domains. RESULTS CP reported cognitive deficits in overall performance as well as specific functions, such as attention, memory, and executive functions. Across all neurocognitive domains, CP showed a poorer performance. Affected subdomains of attention were intensity and selectivity of attention. Lower performance was found also in concentration performance, obtaining and overview, visual orientation performance and reactive stress tolerance. Regarding memory, CP performed worse in figural episodic memory and recognition tasks. In addition, CP exhibited poorer performance in mental flexibility, working memory, planning ability, and inhibition as components of executive functioning, when compared to HC. CONCLUSIONS CP expressed subjective cognitive deficits and demonstrated impaired neurocognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Karlsbad, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Karlsbad, Germany
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Fritz
- Department of Neurology, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Karlsbad, Germany
| | - Matthias Weisbrod
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Karlsbad, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, SRH Clinic Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Karlsbad, Germany
- Department of General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Alcon C, Bergman E, Humphrey J, Patel RM, Wang-Price S. The Relationship between Pain Catastrophizing and Cognitive Function in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Scoping Review. Pain Res Manag 2023; 2023:5851450. [PMID: 37719894 PMCID: PMC10505081 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5851450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Objective Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) poses a considerable threat to physical, mental, and financial health worldwide. Beyond physical difficulties, CMP has a pronounced impact on pain behaviors and cognitive function. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the relationship between pain catastrophizing (PC) and cognitive function in CMP, identify gaps in the literature, and provide future directions for research on the topic. Methods Search strings were entered in the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Nursing and Allied Health, Ovid Emcare, PsycInfo, and Scopus. Data from the included articles were extracted thematically based on diagnostic classification and included author(s), year of publication, country, aim, sample, methods, intervention (if applicable), and key findings. Results 30 articles were included after screening. The studied populations included patients with fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, and CMP. Two studies were designed to assess the relationship between PC and cognition as the primary aim. The included studies demonstrated variable evidence regarding the relationship between PC and cognition. Only four studies included clinically relevant PC populations (i.e., Pain Catastrophizing Scale score >30), and all found significant correlations. Conclusion Although evidence exists for the relationship between cognitive function and PC, there is a lack of rigorous research to indicate the strength of this relationship and the specific cognitive functions affected. The literature lacks appropriate populations needed to investigate clinically relevant PC and is limited by heterogeneous neuropsychological test batteries. Future research should include populations demonstrating the behaviors being studied, intentional analysis of outcomes, and appropriate cognitive tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory Alcon
- High Point University, Department of Physical Therapy, High Point, NC, USA
- Texas Woman's University, School of Physical Therapy, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth Bergman
- Texas Woman's University, School of Physical Therapy, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John Humphrey
- Texas Woman's University, School of Physical Therapy, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rupal M. Patel
- Texas Woman's University, School of Physical Therapy, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sharon Wang-Price
- Texas Woman's University, School of Physical Therapy, Dallas, TX, USA
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Staniszewski K, Ronold EH, Hammar Å, Rosén A. Neurocognitive Functioning in Patients with Painful Temporomandibular Disorders. J Pain Res 2023; 16:2015-2025. [PMID: 37337610 PMCID: PMC10277003 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s414922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim To investigate psychosocial factors in painful TMD (pTMD) which could have consequences for mastering chronic pain. Methods Our study included 22 patients (20 women, 2 men) with pTMD, refractory to conservative treatment, and 19 healthy controls. The control group was matched for gender, age, and educational level, and IQ tested on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. Neurocognitive function was tested with the Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT). Pain intensity was reported according to the General Pain Intensity Questionnaire (GPI), using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Self-perceived cognitive difficulties were reported by the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire-Depression 5-item (PDQ-5). Two measures of rumination were included: the Rumination-Reflection Questionnaire (RRQ) and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). The Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Self-report (MADRS-S) was used to measure depressive symptoms, and the Oral Health Impact Profile-TMD (OHIP-TMD) to measure QoL related to oral health. Results There were no statistical differences in age (median pTMD: 55 years, median control: 53 years), educational level, and IQ between pTMD and controls. Median pain intensity in pTMD was NRS 8 at maximum and the median pain duration was 18 years. There were no significant differences in CWIT between pTMD and controls. Self-perceived cognitive function (PDQ) was significantly poorer in pTMD. Rumination scores from both measures, and the depression score from MADRS, were significantly higher in pTMD. The OHIP-TMD score revealed a significantly poorer QoL in pTMD. Conclusion The group of pTMD patients have self-perceived cognitive difficulties that may make it more difficult to master chronic pain and common everyday tasks. They reported significantly more self-perceived cognitive difficulties, higher rumination, more depressive symptoms, and lower QoL compared to healthy controls, suggesting that these psychosocial factors could be targeted in treatment and interventions. However, the tested neurocognitive performance was equivalent to the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eivind Haga Ronold
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Åsa Hammar
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Annika Rosén
- Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Ferrera D, Gómez-Esquer F, Peláez I, Barjola P, Fernandes-Magalhaes R, Carpio A, De Lahoz ME, Martín-Buro MC, Mercado F. Working memory dysfunction in fibromyalgia is associated with genotypes of the catechol- O-methyltransferase gene: an event-related potential study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023; 273:25-40. [PMID: 36100778 PMCID: PMC9958168 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01488-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings have associated different COMT genotypes with working memory capacity in patients with fibromyalgia. Although it is thought that the COMT gene may influence neural correlates (P2 and P3 ERP components) underlying working memory impairment in this chronic-pain syndrome, it has not yet been explored. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to investigate the potential effect of the COMT gene in fibromyalgia patients on ERP working memory indices (P2 and P3 components). For this purpose, 102 participants (51 patients and 51 healthy control participants) took part in the experiment. Event-related potentials and behavioral responses were recorded while participants performed a spatial n-back task. Participants had to decide if the stimulus coincided or not in the same location as the one presented one (1-back condition) or two (2-back condition) trials before. Genotypes of the COMT gene were determined through a saliva sample from all participants. Present results significantly showed lower working memory performance (p < 0.05) in patients with fibromyalgia as compared to control participants (higher rate of errors and slower reaction times). At neural level, we found that patients exhibited enhanced frontocentral and parieto-occipital P2 amplitudes compared to control participants (p < 0.05). Interestingly, we also observed that only fibromyalgia patients carrying the Val/Val genotype of the COMT gene showed higher frontocentral P2 amplitudes than control participants (p < 0.05). Current results (behavioral outcomes and P2 amplitudes) confirmed the presence of an alteration in working memory functioning in fibromyalgia. The enhancement of frontocentral P2 could be reflecting that these patients would manifest an inefficient way of activating executive attention processes, in carriers of the Val/Val genotype of COMT. To our knowledge, the present findings are the first linking neural indices of working memory dysfunctions and COMT genotypes in fibromyalgia. Applying a subgroup of patient's strategy based on this genetic marker could be useful to establish more tailored therapeutical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ferrera
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Gómez-Esquer
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Emerging Research Group of Anatomical, Molecular and Human Development Bases, Department of Basic Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Peláez
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Barjola
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Fernandes-Magalhaes
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Carpio
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Eugenia De Lahoz
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Carmen Martín-Buro
- grid.28479.300000 0001 2206 5938Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Mercado
- Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Av. Atenas s/n. 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
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Jotwani ML, Wu Z, Lunde CE, Sieberg CB. The missing mechanistic link: Improving behavioral treatment efficacy for pediatric chronic pain. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH (LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 3:1022699. [PMID: 36313218 PMCID: PMC9614027 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1022699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric chronic pain is a significant global issue, with biopsychosocial factors contributing to the complexity of the condition. Studies have explored behavioral treatments for pediatric chronic pain, but these treatments have mixed efficacy for improving functional and psychological outcomes. Furthermore, the literature lacks an understanding of the biobehavioral mechanisms contributing to pediatric chronic pain treatment response. In this mini review, we focus on how neuroimaging has been used to identify biobehavioral mechanisms of different conditions and how this modality can be used in mechanistic clinical trials to identify markers of treatment response for pediatric chronic pain. We propose that mechanistic clinical trials, utilizing neuroimaging, are warranted to investigate how to optimize the efficacy of behavioral treatments for pediatric chronic pain patients across pain types and ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya L. Jotwani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ziyan Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Claire E. Lunde
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christine B. Sieberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biobehavioral Pain Innovations Lab, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Pain and Affective Neuroscience Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States,Correspondence: Christine B. Sieberg
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11
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Schmidt J, Weisbrod M, Fritz M, Aschenbrenner S. Kognition und Kraftfahreignung bei chronischem Schmerzsyndrom. DER NERVENARZT 2022; 94:335-343. [PMID: 36169672 PMCID: PMC10104908 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-022-01387-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
ZusammenfassungKognitive Auffälligkeiten bei Patienten mit chronischen Schmerzen finden in wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen zunehmend Beachtung. Die Folgen dieser kognitiven Störungen in Bezug auf die Schmerzbewältigung, die Alltagsgestaltung und die Kraftfahreignung werden in der klinischen Praxis jedoch kaum berücksichtigt, obwohl die Hälfte aller Patienten davon betroffen ist. Die vorliegende Arbeit fasst die aktuelle Studienlage zusammen und diskutiert Möglichkeiten der Integration in die klinische und therapeutische Versorgung.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Schmidt
- Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Neuropsychologie, SRH Klinikum Karlsbad, Guttmannstr. 1, 76307, Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Deutschland.
- Medizinische Fakultät Heidelberg der Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
| | - M Weisbrod
- Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, SRH Klinikum Karlsbad, Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Deutschland
- Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - M Fritz
- Abteilung für Neurologie, SRH Klinikum Karlsbad, Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Deutschland
| | - S Aschenbrenner
- Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie und Neuropsychologie, SRH Klinikum Karlsbad, Guttmannstr. 1, 76307, Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Deutschland
- Abteilung für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, SRH Klinikum Karlsbad, Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Deutschland
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12
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Variability of Reaction Time as a Marker of Executive Function Impairments in Fibromyalgia. Behav Neurol 2022; 2022:1821684. [PMID: 35846978 PMCID: PMC9277204 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1821684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to chronic widespread pain and depression and anxiety symptoms, patients with fibromyalgia frequently experience cognitive problems. This study investigated executive functions in fibromyalgia via a Go/No-Go task. To obtain comprehensive information about performance, traditional and ex-Gaussian parameters of reaction time (RT) variability were used, in addition to speed and accuracy indices. Ex-Gaussian parameters show an excellent fit to empirical RT distributions. Fifty-two female fibromyalgia patients and twenty-eight healthy controls participated. The task included 60 visual stimuli, which participants had to respond to (Go stimuli) or withhold the response to (No-Go stimuli). After 30 trials, the task rule changed, such that previous No-Go stimuli had to be responded to. Performance was indexed by the hit rate, false alarm rate, and mean (M) and intraindividual standard deviation (SD) of RT and the ex-Gaussian parameters mu, sigma, and tau. Mu and sigma indicate the M and SD of the Gaussian distribution; tau reflects the M and SD of the exponential function. Patients exhibited a lower hit rate, higher M RT, and higher tau than controls. Moreover, patients showed greater decrease of the hit rate after the change of task rule. In the entire sample, SD, sigma, and tau were inversely associated with the hit rate and positively associated with the false alarm rate. While the greater decline in hit rate after the change in task rule indicates deficient cognitive flexibility, the lack of any difference in false alarm rate suggests intact response inhibition. Higher M RT reflects reduced cognitive or motor speed. Increased tau in fibromyalgia indicates greater fluctuations in executive control and more frequent temporary lapses of attention. For the first time, this study demonstrated that indices of RT variability, in particular those derived from the ex-Gaussian function, may complement speed and accuracy parameters in the assessment of executive function impairments in fibromyalgia. Optimized assessment may facilitate the personalization of therapies aimed at improving the cognitive function of those with the disorder.
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13
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Muñoz Ladrón de Guevara C, Reyes del Paso GA, Fernández Serrano MJ, Montoro CI. Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Cognitive Decline: The Role of Body Mass Index and Clinical Symptoms. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11123404. [PMID: 35743474 PMCID: PMC9224759 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11123404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The high prevalence of obesity and overweight in fibromyalgia (FM) may be an important factor in the well-known cognitive deficits seen in the disorder. This study analyzed the influence of body mass index (BMI) and primary clinical symptoms of FM (pain, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depression) on attention, memory, and processing speed in FM. Fifty-two FM patients and thirty-two healthy participants completed cognitive tasks assessing selective, sustained, and divided attention; visuospatial and verbal memory; and information processing speed. Furthermore, they were evaluated in terms of the main clinical symptoms of the disorder. FM patients showed a marked reduction of cognitive performance in terms of selective, sustained, and divided attention; visuospatial memory; and processing speed, but no group differences were observed in verbal memory. BMI negatively affects sustained and selective attention, verbal memory, and processing speed and is the main predictor of performance in these basic cognitive domains. Our findings confirm the presence of cognitive deficits with respect to attention and visual memory, as well as slower processing speed, in FM. Moreover, the results support a role of BMI in the observed cognitive deficits. Interventions increasing physical activity and promoting cognitive stimulation could be useful for strengthening cognitive function in FM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Casandra I. Montoro
- Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
- Correspondence: (C.M.L.d.G.); (C.I.M.)
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14
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Fischer-Jbali LR, Montoro CI, Montoya P, Halder W, Duschek S. Central nervous activity during an emotional Stroop task in fibromyalgia syndrome. Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 177:133-144. [PMID: 35588963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition of widespread pain accompanied by symptoms like depression, fatigue and cognitive impairments. In addition to central nervous pain sensitization, emotional dysregulation may be involved in FMS pathogenesis. This study investigated emotional influences on cognitive processing in FMS. Event-related potentials and theta oscillations were recorded during an emotional Stroop task including positive, negative, and neutral adjectives in 36 FMS patients and 35 controls. Patients had larger P3 amplitudes and greater theta power than controls, independent of the emotional word content. In patients, but not controls, negative words were associated with a larger late positive component (LPC) amplitude than positive words. No group difference was seen for P1, early posterior negativity or N4. Reaction times (RTs) were longer in patients than controls, independent of emotional word content. The P3 and theta oscillation findings suggest greater cognitive effort and attentional mobilization in FMS, which is needed to overcome the reduction of attentional resources resulting from central nervous pain sensitization. Although RTs do not support attentional bias in FMS, emotional modulation of the LPC amplitude may reflect preferential central nervous processing of negative information, which could contribute to pain and affective symptoms characterizing FMS. ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA: The research data of the study are available to the public via the Open Science Framework repository (OSF: https://osf.io/tsyre/).
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Fischer-Jbali
- UMIT Tirol, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
| | - C I Montoro
- University of Jaén, Department of Psychology, Jaén, Spain.
| | - P Montoya
- University of the Balearic Islands, Research Institute of Health Sciences, Spain.
| | - W Halder
- County Hospital Hochzirl, Austria.
| | - S Duschek
- UMIT Tirol, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
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15
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Central Nervous Activity during a Dot Probe Task with Facial Expressions in Fibromyalgia. Biol Psychol 2022; 172:108361. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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16
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Evaluation of visual reaction time in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Rheumatol Int 2022; 42:853-859. [DOI: 10.1007/s00296-022-05107-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Oliva V, Gregory R, Brooks JC, Pickering AE. Central pain modulatory mechanisms of attentional analgesia are preserved in fibromyalgia. Pain 2022; 163:125-136. [PMID: 33941755 PMCID: PMC8675057 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Fibromyalgia is a prevalent pain condition that is associated with cognitive impairments including in attention, memory, and executive processing. It has been proposed that fibromyalgia may be caused by altered central pain processing characterised by a loss of endogenous pain modulation. We tested whether attentional analgesia, where cognitive engagement diminishes pain percept, was attenuated in patients with fibromyalgia (n = 20) compared with matched healthy controls (n = 20). An individually calibrated, attentional analgesia paradigm with a 2 × 2 factorial design was used with brain and brainstem-focussed functional magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with fibromyalgia had both lower heat pain thresholds and speeds in a visual attention task. When this was taken into account for both attentional task and thermal stimulation, both groups exhibited an equivalent degree of attentional analgesia. Functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis showed similar patterns of activation in the main effects of pain and attention in the brain and brainstem (with the sole exceptions of increased activation in the control group in the frontopolar cortex and the ipsilateral locus coeruleus). The attentional analgesic effect correlated with activity in the periaqueductal gray and rostral ventromedial medulla. These findings indicate that patients with fibromyalgia can engage the descending pain modulatory system if the attentional task and noxious stimulus intensity are appropriately titrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Oliva
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Gregory
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University Hospitals Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan C.W. Brooks
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- University of East Anglia Brain Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony E. Pickering
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Anaesthesia, Pain & Critical Care Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University Hospitals Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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18
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Mercado F, Ferrera D, Fernandes-Magalhaes R, Peláez I, Barjola P. Altered sub-processes of working memory in fibromyalgia patients: An ERP study using N-back task. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 23:475-487. [PMID: 34145889 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnab190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia has become a key symptom considered by patients as more disabling than pain itself. Experimental evidence from neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies indicates that such cognitive impairments are especially robust when patients need to set in motion working memory processes, suggesting the existence of an altered functioning underlying the cerebral cortices of the frontoparietal memory network. However, the temporal dynamics of working memory sub-processes have not yet been explored in fibromyalgia. SUBJECTS Thirty-six right-handed women participated in the experiment: comprising eighteen patients with fibromyalgia and eighteen healthy controls. METHODS Event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioural responses were recorded while participants were engaged in a 2-back working memory task. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) were used to define and quantify the ERP components associated with working memory processes. RESULTS Fibromyalgia patients exhibited worse performance than the control group, as revealed by their number of errors in the working memory task. Moreover, both scalp parieto-occipital P2 and parieto-occipital P3 amplitudes were lower for patients than for healthy control participants. Regression analyses revealed that lower P3 amplitudes were observed in those patients with fibromyalgia reporting higher pain ratings. CONCLUSIONS Current results suggest that both encoding of information (as reflected by P2) and subsequently, context updating and the replacement (as seen in lower P3 amplitudes), as a part of working memory sub-processes, are impaired in fibromyalgia. Studying the temporal dynamics of working memory using ERP methodology is a helpful approach to detect specific cognitive impaired mechanisms in this chronic pain syndrome. These new data could be used to develop more specific treatments adapted for each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Mercado
- Psychobiology Unit, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Ferrera
- Psychobiology Unit, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Fernandes-Magalhaes
- Psychobiology Unit, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain.,Clinical Foundation of the Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Peláez
- Psychobiology Unit, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Barjola
- Psychobiology Unit, School of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
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19
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Fischer-Jbali LR, Montoro CI, Montoya P, Halder W, Duschek S. Central nervous activity during implicit processing of emotional face expressions in fibromyalgia syndrome. Brain Res 2021; 1758:147333. [PMID: 33539799 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is characterized by chronic widespread pain accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety and cognitive impairments. In addition to central nervous pain sensitization, emotional dysregulation may be involved in FMS pathogenesis. This study investigated central nervous correlates of affective and attentional processing in FMS using an implicit task. METHODS Event-related potentials (ERPs) of the EEG were recorded in 25 FMS patients and 37 healthy controls while they had to name the frame color of pictures displaying emotional expressions (angry, painful, happy, neutral). The actual picture had to be ingored. Symptoms of pain, depression and anxiety were also assessed. RESULTS Patients exhibited smaller P2 and late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes, and a greater N250 amplitude, than controls. The N250 amplitude varied according to the emotional expressions displayed in patients, but not in controls. No group differences arose for the P1 or N170 amplitudes. Patients had longer reaction times and made more errors on the task; task performance was more closely related to pain severity than to other symptoms. CONCLUSION The reduced P2 and LPP amplitudes indicate deficient short-term mobilization of attentional resources and sustained attention in FMS; the greater N250 amplitude may reflect greater engagement in the decoding of complex facial features, which is necessary to compensate for attentional impairments. Affective modulation of the N250 suggests that the neural mechanisms underlying complex visual processes are particularly susceptible to emotional influences in FMS. The behavioral data confirm attentional deficits in the disorder and implicate clinical pain therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Fischer-Jbali
- UMIT Tirol - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Austria.
| | - C I Montoro
- University of Jaén, Department of Psychology, Jaén, Spain.
| | - P Montoya
- University of the Balearic Islands, Department of Psychology, Spain.
| | - W Halder
- County Hospital Hochzirl, Austria.
| | - S Duschek
- UMIT Tirol - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Austria.
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20
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Galvez-Sánchez CM, de la Coba P, Colmenero JM, Reyes del Paso GA, Duschek S. Attentional function in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246128. [PMID: 33503065 PMCID: PMC7840020 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Concentration difficulties, forgetfulness and mental slowness are common in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS); initial findings suggest that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may also be accompanied by cognitive impairments. This study aimed to compare attentional performance between patients with FMS and RA. Attention was quantified in the domains of alerting, orienting and executive control using the Attentional Network Test-Interaction (ANT-I) in 56 women with FMS, 41 women with RA and 50 healthy women. Pain severity was statistically controlled in the group comparison. While FMS patients exhibited longer reaction times and made more errors on the ANT-I than RA patients and healthy women, performance did not differ between RA patients and healthy women. The magnitude of group differences did not vary by the experimental conditions of the ANT-I, suggesting a general attentional deficit in FMS rather than specific impairments in the domains of alerting, orienting and executive control. Differences between patient groups may relate to the different pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the disorders, i.e. inflammatory processes in RA and central nervous sensitization in FMS. In FMS, heightened activity in the pain neuromatrix may interfere with attention, because it requires enhanced neural resources in brain areas that are involved in both pain and attentional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Stefan Duschek
- Institute of Psychology, UMIT—University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
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21
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Steiner GZ, Barry RJ, Wassink K, De Blasio FM, Fogarty JS, Cave AE, Love S, Armour M. Neuronal Correlates of Cognitive Control Are Altered in Women With Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain. Front Syst Neurosci 2020; 14:593581. [PMID: 33390910 PMCID: PMC7772245 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2020.593581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a debilitating women's health condition and is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain. Impaired cognitive control is common in chronic pain conditions, however, it has not yet been investigated in endometriosis. The aim of this study was to explore the neuronal correlates of cognitive control in women with endometriosis. Using a cross-sectional study design with data collected at a single time-point, event-related potentials were elicited during a cued continuous performance test from 20 women with endometriosis (mean age = 28.5 ± 5.2 years) and 20 age- and gender-matched controls (mean age = 28.5 ± 5.2 years). Event-related potential components were extracted and P3 component amplitudes were derived with temporal principal components analysis. Behavioral and ERP outcomes were compared between groups and subjective pain severity was correlated with ERP component amplitudes. No significant behavioral differences were seen in task performance between the groups (all p > 0.094). Target P3b (all p < 0.034) and SW (all p < 0.040), and non-target early P3a (eP3a; all p < 0.023) and late P3a (lP3a; all p < 0.035) amplitudes were smaller for the endometriosis compared to the healthy control group. Lower non-target eP3a (p < 0.001), lP3a (p = 0.013), and SW (p = 0.019) amplitudes were correlated with higher pain severity scores. Findings suggest that endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain is linked to alterations in stimulus-response processing and inhibitory control networks, but not impaired behavioral performance, due to compensatory neuroplastic changes in overlapping cognitive control and pain networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Z Steiner
- NICM Health Research Institute and Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.,Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert J Barry
- Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Wassink
- Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Frances M De Blasio
- Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jack S Fogarty
- Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Adele E Cave
- NICM Health Research Institute and Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Sapphire Love
- Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Mike Armour
- NICM Health Research Institute and Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
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22
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Kratz AL, Whibley D, Kim S, Sliwinski M, Clauw D, Williams DA. Fibrofog in Daily Life: An Examination of Ambulatory Subjective and Objective Cognitive Function in Fibromyalgia. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020; 72:1669-1677. [PMID: 31609548 PMCID: PMC7153985 DOI: 10.1002/acr.24089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Perceived cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia (FM), "fibrofog," is common. Prior laboratory-based studies have limited our understanding of cognitive function in FM in daily life. The objective of this study was to explore levels of subjective and objective cognitive functioning and the association between subjective and objective aspects of cognition in people with and without FM in the lived environment. METHODS Participants (n = 50 adults with FM; n = 50 adults without FM, matched for age, sex, and education) completed baseline measures of subjective and objective cognitive functioning (NIH Toolbox). They also completed ecological momentary assessments of cognitive clarity and speed and tests of processing speed and working memory, via a smart phone app, 5×/day for 8 days. RESULTS On baseline objective measures, the FM group demonstrated poorer cognitive functioning across 3 NIH Toolbox tests. There were no strong correlations between subjective and objective cognitive functioning in both the FM and control groups. In the lived environment, the FM group demonstrated poorer subjective cognition and objective working memory; groups did not differ on processing speed. Momentary ratings of subjective cognitive dysfunction were significantly related to changes in objective processing speed but not working memory, with no group differences. CONCLUSION Findings indicate worse laboratory-based and ambulatory subjective and objective cognitive function for those individuals with FM compared to those without FM. Similar associations between measures of subjective and objective cognitive functioning for the groups suggest that people with FM are not overstating cognitive difficulties. Future research examining contributors to ambulatory fibrofog is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L. Kratz
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Daniel Whibley
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Epidemiology Group, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Samsuk Kim
- Department of Psychology, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI
| | - Martin Sliwinski
- Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Daniel Clauw
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - David A. Williams
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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23
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Effects of COMT Genotypes on Working Memory Performance in Fibromyalgia Patients. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9082479. [PMID: 32752289 PMCID: PMC7464119 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9082479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing research has reported the presence of a clear impairment of working memory functioning in fibromyalgia. Although different genetic factors involving dopamine availability (i.e, the COMT gene) have been associated with the more severe presentation of key symptoms in fibromyalgia, scientific evidence regarding the influence of COMT genotypes on cognitive impairment in these patients is still lacking. To this end, 167 participants took part in the present investigation. Working memory performance was assessed by the application of the SST (Spatial Span Test) and LNST (Letter and Number Sequence Test) belonging to the Weschler Memory Scale III. Significant working memory impairment was shown by the fibromyalgia patients. Remarkably, our results suggest that performance according to different working memory measures might be influenced by different genotypes of the COMT gene. Specifically, fibromyalgia patients carrying the Val/Val genotype exhibited significantly worse outcomes for the span of SST backward, SST backward score, SST total score and the Working Memory Index (WMI) than the Val/Val healthy carriers. Furthermore, the Val/Val patients performed worse on the SST backward and SST score than heterozygotes. Our findings are the first to show a link between the COMT gene and working memory dysfunction in fibromyalgia, supporting the idea that higher COMT enzyme activity would contribute to more severe working memory impairment in fibromyalgia.
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24
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Knezevic A, Neblett R, Colovic P, Jeremic-Knezevic M, Bugarski-Ignjatovic V, Klasnja A, Pantelinac S, Pjevic M. Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Serbian Version of the Central Sensitization Inventory. Pain Pract 2020; 20:724-736. [PMID: 32285543 DOI: 10.1111/papr.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of the present study was to explore additional evidence of validity of the Serbian version of the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), a patient-reported outcome measure of symptoms that have been found to be associated with central sensitization (CS). The CSI has been found to be psychometrically sound, and has demonstrated evidence of convergent and discriminant validity in numerous published studies and in multiple languages. METHODS CSI data were collected from 399 patients with chronic pain who had various diagnoses and from 146 pain-free controls. In addition, the patient sample completed a battery of validated patient-reported outcome measures of sleep problems, cognitive problems, pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear-avoidance, decreased quality of life, and decreased perception of social support. Six patient subgroups were formed, with presumably different levels of CS (including those with fibromyalgia, multiple pain sites, and localized pain sites). RESULTS Significant differences were found in total CSI scores among the controls and patient subgroups. Those with fibromyalgia and multiple pathologies scored highest and the control subjects scored lowest. Other patient-reported CS-related symptom dimensions were significantly correlated with total CSI scores. When the patients were divided into CSI severity subgroups (from subclinical to extreme), the severity of these other symptom dimensions increased with the severity of CSI scores. CONCLUSIONS The current study successfully demonstrated additional evidence of the convergent and discriminant validity of the Serbian version of the CSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Knezevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Petar Colovic
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Vojislava Bugarski-Ignjatovic
- Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Neurology Clinic, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Slobodan Pantelinac
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Pjevic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
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25
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Kircher JA, Cherry BJ, Zettel-Watson L. Blood pressure as a predictor of everyday cognitive function in aging adults with and without fibromyalgia. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 28:327-345. [DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1757028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A. Kircher
- Department of Psychology, California State University Fullerton, USA
| | - Barbara J. Cherry
- Department of Psychology, California State University Fullerton, USA
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26
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Hollins M, Bryen CP, Taylor D. Effects of chronic pain history on perceptual and cognitive inhibition. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:321-332. [PMID: 31907554 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05715-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Measures of sensory and cognitive inhibition were obtained from university students with and without a history of chronic pain. The form of sensory inhibition measured was diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC), the capacity of a painful stimulus to reduce the subjective intensity of a second stimulus delivered to a remote body site. To measure cognitive inhibition, the Stroop effect was used. Participants with a history of chronic pain showed less DNIC (i.e., less sensory inhibition) than the healthy controls, but had a smaller Stroop effect (indicating greater cognitive inhibition). The fact that chronic pain history is associated with opposite changes in these two measures casts doubt on the view that the two inhibitory processes are related. Scores on each experimental measure were equivalent in pain-history subjects with ongoing chronic pain and those whose chronic pain had resolved. This equivalence suggests that chronic pain in childhood or adolescence may have lingering effects on sensory and cognitive inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Hollins
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Chloe P Bryen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Dillon Taylor
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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27
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Cunha AM, Esteves M, Pereira-Mendes J, Guimarães MR, Almeida A, Leite-Almeida H. High trait impulsivity potentiates the effects of chronic pain on impulsive behavior. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN 2019; 7:100042. [PMID: 31890992 PMCID: PMC6928455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2019.100042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
We explored a potential relation between trait and chronic pain-induced impulsivity. Low trait impulsivity rats with neuropathic pain perform similarly to controls. High trait impulsivity rats are delay intolerant in chronic pain conditions. Trait characteristics influence chronic pain comorbid manifestations.
Preclinical studies on impulsive decision-making in chronic pain conditions are sparse and often contradictory. Outbred rat populations are heterogeneous regarding trait impulsivity manifestations and therefore we hypothesized that chronic pain-related alterations depend on individual traits. To test this hypothesis, we used male Wistar-Han rats in two independent experiments. Firstly, we tested the impact of spared nerve injury (SNI) in impulsive behavior evaluated by the variable delay-to-signal test (VDS). In the second experiment, SNI impact on impulsivity was again tested, but in groups previously categorized as high (HI) and low (LI) trait impulsivity in the VDS. Results showed that in an heterogenous population SNI-related impact on motor impulsivity and delay intolerance cannot be detected. However, when baseline impulsivity was considered, HI showed a significantly higher delay intolerance than the respective controls more prevalent in left-lesioned animals and appearing to result from a response correction on prematurity from VDS I to VDS II, which was present in Sham and right-lesioned animals. In conclusion, baseline differences should be more often considered when analyzing chronic pain impact. While this study pertained to impulsive behavior, other reports indicate that this can be generalized to other behavioral dimensions and that trait differences can influence not only the manifestation of comorbid behaviors but also pain itself in a complex and not totally understood manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Madalena Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Pereira-Mendes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marco Rafael Guimarães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Armando Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hugo Leite-Almeida
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga Guimarães, Portugal
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28
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Emotional Influences on Cognitive Processing in Fibromyalgia Patients With Different Depression Levels: An Event-related Potential Study. Clin J Pain 2019; 34:1106-1113. [PMID: 29975206 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Comorbid symptoms in fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome, such as mood disorders and cognitive dysfunction, may lead to greater functional impairment than pain itself. This study aimed to unravel the modulating role of depression in response execution and inhibition in FM using an emotional go/no-go task. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 17 FM patients with low depression, 18 FM patients with high depression, and 18 pain-free controls were included. Pain, happy, and neutral faces were pseudorandomly presented, and participants were asked to respond to male faces (go trials) by pressing a button, and to inhibit their responses if female faces were presented (no-go trials). RESULTS FM patients with high depression showed lower positive affect scores, higher negative affect and pain vigilance scores, and slower reaction times, than FM patients with low depression and pain-free controls. Both subgroups of FM patients also rated pain faces as more arousing than pain-free controls. The lack of group differences in our electrophysiological data, neither in N200 nor in P300 amplitudes, seems to indicate that there was no significant impairment in response execution in response inhibition due to pain. DISCUSSION Taken together, these results add evidence to the notion that depression is associated with higher affective dysregulation and deficit of information-processing speed in FM. Furthermore, our data suggest that pain induces a bias to pain-related information, but the absence of significant group differences in event-related potential amplitudes, calculated with analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) (with pain intensity), seem to show that pain intensity is not a predictor for cognitive dysfunctions.
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29
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Bunk S, Preis L, Zuidema S, Lautenbacher S, Kunz M. Executive Functions and Pain. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NEUROPSYCHOLOGIE 2019. [DOI: 10.1024/1016-264x/a000264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. A growing body of literature suggests that chronic-pain patients suffer from problems in various neuropsychological domains, including executive functioning. In order to better understand which components of executive functioning (inhibition, shifting and/or updating) might be especially affected by pain and which mechanisms might underlie this association, we conducted a systematic review, including both chronic-pain studies as well as experimental-pain studies. The chronic-pain studies (N = 57) show that pain is associated with poorer executive functioning. The findings of experimental-pain studies (N = 28) suggest that this might be a bidirectional relationship: Pain can disrupt executive functioning, but poorer executive functioning might also be a risk factor for higher vulnerability to pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Bunk
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lukas Preis
- Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sytse Zuidema
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Miriam Kunz
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
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30
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Samartin-Veiga N, González-Villar AJ, Carrillo-de-la-Peña MT. Neural correlates of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients: Reduced brain electrical activity during the execution of a cognitive control task. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 23:101817. [PMID: 30999252 PMCID: PMC6468193 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fibromyalgia (FM) is a generalized chronic pain syndrome of unknown aetiology. Although FM patients frequently complain of cognitive dysfunction, this is one of the least studied symptoms. Research on brain activity associated with the perceived cognitive impairment is particularly scarce. To address this gap, we recorded the brain electrical activity in participants during a cognitive control task. METHODS Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded in 19 FM patients and 22 healthy controls (all women) while they performed the Multi-Source Interference Task (MSIT). We analyzed the amplitude of the frontal N2 and parietal P3 components elicited in control and interference trials and their relation with reaction times. We also explored the relationship of perceived cognitive dysfunction, assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS) and the Memory Failures of Everyday (MFE-30) test, with N2 and P3 amplitudes. RESULTS The N2 amplitudes were smaller in FM patients than in controls and were negatively associated with cognitive complaints. Unlike patients, healthy controls showed significant differences in the amplitude of P3 obtained from control vs. interference trials of the MSIT. Smaller N2 and P3 amplitudes were associated to longer reaction times. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest a reduction in frontal brain activity during performance of an interference task, which was associated with the patients' cognitive complaints. Findings on P3 suggest altered modulation of attention according to the task demands in FM patients. Deficits in flexibility in the allocation of attentional resources and cognitive control during complex tasks may explain the dyscognition reported by chronic pain patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Samartin-Veiga
- Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - A J González-Villar
- Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Psychological Neuroscience Lab, Research Center in Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - M T Carrillo-de-la-Peña
- Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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31
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Vucurovic K, Dupont-Gaudin C, Raucher-Chéné D, Kaladjian A, Cuervo-Lombard CV. Fibromyalgia patients make scarce reference to pain in self-defining memories. Compr Psychiatry 2019; 90:30-36. [PMID: 30684830 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Self-defining memories (SDMs) are vivid, emotionally intense and well-rehearsed autobiographical memories that provide fundamental information about one's cognitive affective motivational representation of self. Exploring SDMs in fibromyalgia (FM) is of interest for understanding the psychopathology of this disorder and improving clinical interventions. Our aim was to compare patients and healthy controls (HC) on SDM characteristics. METHOD We included 25 patients with FM and 24 HC matched for age, sex and education level. Each participant described five SDMs, which were coded for content, specificity, integration, tension, redemption, contamination, affective response, date, and reference to pain. We statistically controlled our results for the most plausible confounding factors related to FM that could affect SDM recall, namely depression, anxiety, cognitive inhibition, pain severity and medication. RESULTS Compared with HC, patients retrieved less specific SDMs with a more negative emotional valence but less tension. They reported more relationship-related memories, and fewer redemptive ones, with less meaning-making. The number of memories referring to physical or psychological pain did not differ between groups. None of the confounding factors we analysed could explain (either alone or in combination) the statistical differences between groups for SDMs characteristics. CONCLUSION We discuss functional avoidance and alexithymia as two main factors for poor reference to pain in patients' SDMs that further reveal affective dysregulation in FM. In clinical practice, remediating the way in which pain is integrated into SDMs in FM may help to mitigate its negative impact on everyday life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ksenija Vucurovic
- Laboratoire Cognition, Santé, Société (C2S), Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, Reims, France; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Reims, France.
| | | | - Delphine Raucher-Chéné
- Laboratoire Cognition, Santé, Société (C2S), Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, Reims, France; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Reims, France
| | - Arthur Kaladjian
- Laboratoire Cognition, Santé, Société (C2S), Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, Reims, France; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Reims, France
| | - Christine-Vanessa Cuervo-Lombard
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Reims, France; Centre for Studies and Research on Health Psychology and Psychopathology (CERPPS), Department of Psychology, Toulouse 2 Jean Jaurès University, Toulouse, France
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32
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Fang SC, Wu YL, Chen SC, Teng HW, Tsai PS. Subjective sleep quality as a mediator in the relationship between pain severity and sustained attention performance in patients with fibromyalgia. J Sleep Res 2019; 28:e12843. [PMID: 30920084 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Pain severity and sleep are associated with cognitive performance in patients with fibromyalgia. This study examined whether sleep mediates the relationships of pain severity with psychomotor vigilance and attention in patients with fibromyalgia by analysing 80 patients with fibromyalgia. Cognitive performance, pain severity and sleep parameters were determined using the Psychomotor Vigilance Task, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form and sleep diaries of seven consecutive nights, respectively. The patients' demographic data were analysed for potential confounding factors. After adjustment for these confounders, a series of regression analyses was performed to examine the mediating role of sleep. The results indicated that higher pain severity was strongly associated with poorer sustained attention and lower sleep quality, the total effects of pain severity on psychomotor vigilance and attention were significant (c path: β = 0.23, p = 0.04), and pain severity was a significant sleep quality predictor (a path: β = -0.33, p < 0.01). When sleep quality was entered into the regression model (a × b path), the effects of pain severity on psychomotor vigilance and attention became non-significant (c' path: β = 0.15, p = 0.20) after adjustment of age, indicating a complete mediating effect of sleep quality in the pain severity-cognitive performance relationship. In conclusion, sleep quality mediates the pain severity-cognitive performance relationship: pain affects sleep quality, which in turn impairs sustained attention. Our findings provide further insight into the processes underlying the relationship between pain and poor cognitive function. Improved sleep quality may offset the detrimental effects of pain on sustained attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Chen Fang
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Lin Wu
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ching Chen
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Wen Teng
- Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Shan Tsai
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Nursing, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Sleep Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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33
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Weiss KE, Harbeck-Weber C, Zaccariello MJ, Kimondo JN, Harrison TE, Bruce BK. Executive Functioning in Pediatric Chronic Pain: Do Deficits Exist? PAIN MEDICINE 2019; 19:60-67. [PMID: 28339998 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnx020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective Despite ample research documenting deficits in executive functioning for adults with chronic pain, the literature on pediatric patients with chronic pain is limited and provides mixed results. The current study sought to further investigate the nature of executive dysfunction in this population and also examine the relationships between pain intensity, duration, and catastrophizing with sustained attention, working memory, and self- and parent-report of executive functioning. Settings Pediatric pain clinic and rehabilitation program. Participants Forty adolescents with chronic pain and their parents participated in this study. Methods Participants completed neuropsychological measures and standardized self-report questionnaires during a 45- to 60-minute testing session. Results Fifty percent of this sample of adolescents with chronic pain demonstrated significant difficulties on at least one measure, with nine participants indicating difficulties on multiple measures. Pain significantly increased during the testing session. Pain variables of intensity, duration, and catastrophizing are related to sustained attention and working memory. Conclusions This study adds support to previous findings suggesting subclinical struggles with executive functioning for adolescents with chronic pain. One-half of the sample indicated difficulties in either sustained attention and/or working memory. Future studies that would more thoroughly examine more complex executive functioning skills in this population would be helpful to further guide multidisciplinary treatment of these patients, particularly regarding whether or not school accommodations are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology.,University of Washington/Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Barbara K Bruce
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
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Teodoro T, Edwards MJ, Isaacs JD. A unifying theory for cognitive abnormalities in functional neurological disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: systematic review. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2018; 89:1308-1319. [PMID: 29735513 PMCID: PMC6288708 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-317823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional cognitive disorder (FCD) describes cognitive dysfunction in the absence of an organic cause. It is increasingly prevalent in healthcare settings yet its key neuropsychological features have not been reported in large patient cohorts. We hypothesised that cognitive profiles in fibromyalgia (FM), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and functional neurological disorders (FNDs) would provide a template for characterising FCD. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of studies with cognition-related outcomes in FM, CFS and FND. RESULTS We selected 52 studies on FM, 95 on CFS and 39 on FND. We found a general discordance between high rates of subjective cognitive symptoms, including forgetfulness, distractibility and word-finding difficulties, and inconsistent objective neuropsychological deficits. Objective deficits were reported, including poor selective and divided attention, slow information processing and vulnerability to distraction. In some studies, cognitive performance was inversely correlated with pain, exertion and fatigue. Performance validity testing demonstrated poor effort in only a minority of subjects, and patients with CFS showed a heightened perception of effort. DISCUSSION The cognitive profiles of FM, CFS and non-cognitive FND are similar to the proposed features of FCD, suggesting common mechanistic underpinnings. Similar findings have been reported in patients with mild traumatic brain injury and whiplash. We hypothesise that pain, fatigue and excessive interoceptive monitoring produce a decrease in externally directed attention. This increases susceptibility to distraction and slows information processing, interfering with cognitive function, in particular multitasking. Routine cognitive processes are experienced as unduly effortful. This may reflect a switch from an automatic to a less efficient controlled or explicit cognitive mode, a mechanism that has also been proposed for impaired motor control in FND. These experiences might then be overinterpreted due to memory perfectionism and heightened self-monitoring of cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Teodoro
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Neurology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa & Serviço de Neurologia Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mark J Edwards
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Neurology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jeremy D Isaacs
- Neurosciences Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK.,Department of Neurology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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35
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Pidal-Miranda M, González-Villar AJ, Carrillo-de-la-Peña MT, Andrade E, Rodríguez-Salgado D. Broad cognitive complaints but subtle objective working memory impairment in fibromyalgia patients. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5907. [PMID: 30498630 PMCID: PMC6252063 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia (FM) encompasses objective cognitive difficulties, as measured in neuropsychological tests, and self-reported cognitive complaints. Although it has been suggested that FM patients display problems in working memory, the data are inconsistent, and the overall working memory status of the patients is unclear. It is also not clear whether the working memory problems are related to cognitive complaints or how the dyscognition is affected by the characteristic clinical symptoms of FM. METHODS To clarify these aspects, we explored the neuropsychological performance for different components of working memory and the subjective self-perception of cognitive status in a sample of 38 women with FM. They were compared with a matched group of 32 healthy women. RESULTS Our findings suggested that the FM patients do not differ from healthy controls in their overall working memory functioning. Only a poor performance was found in a single task of visuospatial working memory, mediated by the presence of depressive symptoms, fatigue and pain. The FM patients also displayed a higher level of perception of cognitive difficulties than healthy controls, and this difference was mediated by depression and fatigue. Furthermore, cognitive complaints in FM patients were only associated with a lower verbal WM capacity. DISCUSSION FM patients have a subtle specific impairment in their working memory functioning, as well as elevated concern about their cognitive status. These findings suggest a disconnection between neuropsychological performance and subjective complaints. In FM patients, clinical variables such as pain, fatigue, and depression play an important role in dyscognition, as assessed by both objective and subjective measures, and should be taken into account in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Pidal-Miranda
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alberto Jacobo González-Villar
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Elena Andrade
- Department of Social, Basic and Methodological Psychology, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Dolores Rodríguez-Salgado
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Cognitive deficits in fibromyalgia syndrome are associated with pain responses to low intensity pressure stimulation. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201488. [PMID: 30067829 PMCID: PMC6070250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and diffuse tenderness, accompanied by complaints including morning stiffness, fatigue, insomnia and affective symptoms. In addition, affected patients frequently experience cognitive impairments such as concentration difficulties, forgetfulness or problems in planning and decision-making. These deficits are commonly ascribed to interference between nociceptive and cognitive processing. Method The present study investigated the association of cognitive performance with (a) pain responses to low intensity pressure stimulation (0.45–2.25 kg/cm2), (b) responses to stronger (above-threshold) stimulation (2.70 kg/cm2), and (c) pain threshold and tolerance in 42 women with FMS. Tests of attention, memory, processing speed, and executive functions were applied. Results While no significant correlations were seen for pain threshold and pain tolerance, inverse associations arose between pain intensity ratings during pressure stimulation and performance in all evaluated cognitive domains. The magnitude of the correlations increased with decreasing stimulus intensity. Conclusions It may be concluded that pain experience during somatosensory stimulation of low intensity is more closely related to attention, memory and executive functions in FMS than the traditional measures of pain threshold and pain tolerance. Considering that pain responses to low intensity stimulation reflect the hyperalgesia and allodynia phenomena characterizing FMS, it may be hypothesized that central nervous pain sensitization is involved in cognitive impairments in the disorder.
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37
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Muñoz Ladrón de Guevara C, Fernández-Serrano MJ, Reyes del Paso GA, Duschek S. Executive function impairments in fibromyalgia syndrome: Relevance of clinical variables and body mass index. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196329. [PMID: 29694417 PMCID: PMC5918817 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several investigations suggest the presence of deterioration of executive function in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The study quantified executive functions in patients with FMS. A wide array of functions was assessed, including updating, shifting and inhibition, as well as decision making and mental planning. Moreover, clinical variables were investigated as possible mediators of executive dysfunction, including pain severity, psychiatric comorbidity, medication and body mass index (BMI). Methods Fifty-two FMS patients and 32 healthy controls completed a battery of 14 neuropsychological tests. Clinical interviews were conducted and the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Fatigue Severity Scale and Oviedo Quality of Sleep Questionnaire were presented. Results Patients performed poorer than controls on the Letter Number Sequencing, Arithmetic and Similarities subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Spatial Span subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale, an N-back task, a verbal fluency task, the Ruff Figural Fluency Test, the Inhibition score of the Stroop Test, the Inhibition and Shifting scores of the Five Digits Test, the Key Search Test and the Zoo Map Task. Moreover, patients exhibited less steep learning curves on the Iowa Gambling Task. Among clinical variables, BMI and pain severity explained the largest proportion of performance variance. Conclusions This study demonstrated impairments in executive functions of updating, shifting inhibition, decision making and planning in FMS. While the mediating role of pain in cognitive impairments in FMS had been previously established, the influence of BMI is a novel finding. Overweight and obesity should be considered by FMS researchers, and in the treatment of the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stefan Duschek
- UMIT—University for Health Sciences Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
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38
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Galvez-Sánchez CM, Reyes del Paso GA, Duschek S. Cognitive Impairments in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Associations With Positive and Negative Affect, Alexithymia, Pain Catastrophizing and Self-Esteem. Front Psychol 2018; 9:377. [PMID: 29623059 PMCID: PMC5874325 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain accompanied by symptoms like depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and fatigue. In addition, affected patients frequently report cognitive disruption such as forgetfulness, concentration difficulties or mental slowness. Though cognitive deficits in FMS have been confirmed in various studies, not much is known about the mechanisms involved in their origin. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of affect-related variables to cognitive impairments in FMS. For this purpose, 67 female FMS patients and 32 healthy control subjects completed a battery of cognitive tests measuring processing speed, attention, visuospatial and verbal memory, cognitive flexibility and planning abilities. In addition, participants completed self-report questionnaires pertaining to positive and negative affect, alexithymia, pain catastrophizing and self-esteem. Clinical characteristics including pain severity, symptoms of depression and anxiety, insomnia and fatigue were also assessed. FMS patients showed markedly poorer performance than healthy controls in all of the cognitive domains assessed, in addition to greater levels of depression, anxiety, negative affect, alexithymia and pain catastrophizing, and lower self-esteem and positive affect. In exploratory correlation analysis in the FMS sample, lower cognitive performance was associated with higher pain severity, depression, anxiety, negative affect, alexithymia and pain catastrophizing, as well as lower self-esteem and positive affect. However, in regression analyses, pain, self-esteem, alexithymia, and pain catastrophizing explained the largest portion of the variance in performance. While interference effects of clinical pain in cognition have been previously described, the present findings suggest that affective factors also substantially contribute to the genesis of cognitive impairments. They support the notion that affective disturbances form a crucial aspect of FMS pathology, whereas strategies aiming to improve emotional regulation may be a beneficial element of psychological therapy in the management of FMS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefan Duschek
- Department of Psychology, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
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Higgins DM, Martin AM, Baker DG, Vasterling JJ, Risbrough V. The Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Neurocognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Clin J Pain 2018; 34:262-275. [PMID: 28719507 PMCID: PMC5771985 DOI: 10.1097/ajp.0000000000000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understanding the relationship between chronic pain and neurocognition has important implications for the assessment and treatment of patient experiencing pain. This paper provides an overview of the current literature examining the neurocognition-chronic pain relationship and suggests future avenues of research, along with a discussion of clinical implications of the literature findings. Consideration of potential moderators and mediators of this relationship, as well as a brief discussion of the importance of future research in special populations at particular risk for these problems, are also a focus of this paper. METHODS This systematic review summarizes the findings of clinical studies in which neurocognitive performance was measured in chronic pain samples. A literature search led to the inclusion of 53 articles in the review. RESULTS Studies of neurocognitive performance in clinical chronic pain samples support a relationship between chronic pain and neurocognitive abnormalities, particularly on tests of memory, attention, and processing speed, with mixed data regarding executive functioning. DISCUSSION Several factors may moderate or mediate the relationship between chronic pain and neurocognitive functioning, including mood symptoms, medication side effects, and intensity and/or chronicity of pain. Limitations in the literature include a paucity of methodologically rigorous studies controlling for confounding variables (eg, opioid analgesia) and a limited number of studies examining the relationship between chronic pain and traumatic brain injury (a potential precipitant of both pain and neurocognitive impairment). Nonetheless, findings from the existing literature have significant clinical implications, including for populations with heightened risk of both pain and neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M. Higgins
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | - Dewleen G. Baker
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
- VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health and San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | | | - Victoria Risbrough
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
- VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health and San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
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Bell T, Trost Z, Buelow MT, Clay O, Younger J, Moore D, Crowe M. Meta-analysis of cognitive performance in fibromyalgia. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2018; 40:698-714. [PMID: 29388512 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2017.1422699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fibromyalgia is a condition with symptoms of pain, physical function difficulties, and emotional problems, but is also characterized by complaints of poor cognition (often called "FibroFog"). Over the last two decades, a number of studies have examined cognitive differences between individuals with and without fibromyalgia. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a quantitative synthesis of these differences across multiple cognitive domains. METHOD Following Cochrane guidelines, we identified 37 eligible studies for analysis where persons with fibromyalgia (total n = 964) were compared to participants from age-matched control groups without fibromyalgia (total n = 1025) on a range of neuropsychological measures. Group differences between persons with fibromyalgia and healthy controls were examined for cognitive domains including processing speed, long- and short-term memory, and executive functions (inhibitory control, set shifting, updating, and accessing). Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted to determine effect sizes for these differences in cognitive performance. RESULTS Fibromyalgia was significantly and negatively associated with performance on all domains of cognitive function. The largest effect size was found for inhibitory control (g = 0.61), followed by memory (g = 0.51 for short-term, 0.50 for long-term memory). The smallest cognitive difference between those with fibromyalgia and controls was for set shifting (g = 0.30). CONCLUSION These findings support the hypothesis that the self-reported cognitive impact of fibromyalgia is also found in objective neuropsychological measures. Routine screening for cognitive dysfunction in those with fibromyalgia may be warranted in addition to assessment of the traditional fibromyalgia symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Bell
- a Psychology Department , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA
| | - Zina Trost
- a Psychology Department , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA
| | - Melissa T Buelow
- b Department of Psychology , The Ohio State University Newark, Newark, OH, USA
| | - Olivio Clay
- a Psychology Department , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA
| | - Jarred Younger
- c Department of Psychology and Department of Anesthesiology , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA
| | - David Moore
- d School of Natural Sciences and Psychology , Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael Crowe
- a Psychology Department , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cognitive functioning is commonly disrupted in people living with chronic pain, yet it is an aspect of pain that is often not routinely assessed in pain management settings, and there is a paucity of research on treatments or strategies to alleviate the problem. The purpose of this review is to outline recent research on cognitive deficits seen in chronic pain, to give an overview of the mechanisms involved, advocate cognitive functioning as an important target for treatment in pain populations, and discuss ways in which it may be assessed and potentially remediated. METHODS A narrative review. RESULTS There are several options for remediation, including compensatory, restorative, and neuromodulatory approaches to directly modify cognitive functioning, as well as physical, psychological, and medication optimization methods to target secondary factors (mood, sleep, and medications) that may interfere with cognition. DISCUSSION We highlight the potential to enhance cognitive functions and identify the major gaps in the research literature.
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González-Villar AJ, Samartin-Veiga N, Arias M, Carrillo-de-la-Peña MT. Increased neural noise and impaired brain synchronization in fibromyalgia patients during cognitive interference. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5841. [PMID: 28724985 PMCID: PMC5517506 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06103-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) and other chronic pain syndromes are associated with cognitive dysfunction and attentional deficits, but the neural basis of such alterations is poorly understood. Dyscognition may be related to high levels of neural noise, understood as increased random electrical fluctuations that impair neural communication; however, this hypothesis has not yet been tested in any chronic pain condition. Here we compared electroencephalographic activity (EEG) in 18 FM patients -with high self-reported levels of cognitive dysfunction- and 22 controls during a cognitive control task. We considered the slope of the Power Spectrum Density (PSD) as an indicator of neural noise. As the PSD slope is flatter in noisier systems, we expected to see shallower slopes in the EEG of FM patients. Higher levels of neural noise should be accompanied by reduced power modulation and reduced synchronization between distant brain locations after stimulus presentation. As expected, FM patients showed flatter PSD slopes. After applying a Laplacian spatial filter, we found reduced theta and alpha power modulation and reduced midfrontal-posterior theta phase synchronization. Results suggest higher neural noise and impaired local and distant neural coordination in the patients and support the neural noise hypothesis to explain dyscognition in FM.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J González-Villar
- Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - N Samartin-Veiga
- Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - M Arias
- Departamento de Neurología, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - M T Carrillo-de-la-Peña
- Departamento de Psicoloxía Clínica e Psicobioloxía, Facultade de Psicoloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Rasouli O, Fors EA, Borchgrevink PC, Öhberg F, Stensdotter AK. Gross and fine motor function in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. J Pain Res 2017; 10:303-309. [PMID: 28223840 PMCID: PMC5304994 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s127038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This paper aimed to investigate motor proficiency in fine and gross motor function, with a focus on reaction time (RT) and movement skill, in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) compared to healthy controls (HC). Methods A total of 60 individuals (20 CFS, 20 FM, and 20 HC), age 19–49 years, participated in this study. Gross motor function in the lower extremity was assessed using a RT task during gait initiation in response to an auditory trigger. Fine motor function in the upper extremity was measured during a precision task (the Purdue Pegboard test) where the number of pins inserted within 30 s was counted. Results No significant differences were found between FM and CFS in any parameters. FM and CFS groups had significantly longer RT than HC in the gait initiation (p=0.001, and p=0.004 respectively). In the Purdue Pegboard test, 20% in the FM group, 15% in the CFS groups, and 0% of HC group, scored below the threshold of the accepted performance. However, there were no significant differences between FM, CFS, and HC in this task (p=0.12). Conclusion Compared to controls, both CFS and FM groups displayed significantly longer RT in the gait initiation task. Generally, FM patients showed the worst results in both tests, although no group differences were found in fine motor control, according to the Purdue Pegboard test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omid Rasouli
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Egil A Fors
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, General Practice Research Unit, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Petter Chr Borchgrevink
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Pain and Palliation Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; National Competence Centre for Complex Symptom Disorders, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Fredrik Öhberg
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ann-Katrin Stensdotter
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Jay K, Brandt M, Schraefel M, Jakobsen MD, Sundstrup E, Sjøgaard G, Vinstrup J, Andersen LL. Neurocognitive performance and physical function do not change with physical-cognitive-mindfulness training in female laboratory technicians with chronic musculoskeletal pain: Randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e5554. [PMID: 27977585 PMCID: PMC5268031 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000005554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive and physical performance can be negatively affected by chronic pain. This study evaluates the effect of combined physical-, cognitive-, and mindfulness training (PCMT) on cognitive and physical performance. METHODS From a large pharmaceutical company in Denmark we randomly allocated 112 female laboratory technicians with chronic upper limb pain to group-based PCMT at the worksite or a reference group for 10 weeks. Neurocognitive performance was measured by the computerized central nervous system vital signs neurocognitive assessment battery. Physical function was assessed in terms of shoulder external rotation strength and rate of force development in a custom-made dynamometer setup. RESULTS No between-group differences (least square means [95% confidence interval]) from baseline to follow-up could be detected in any of the neurocognitive domains as measured by the central nervous system vital signs neurocognitive assessment battery, for example, Psychomotoer Speed 1.9 (-1.0 to 4.7), Reaction Time -4.0 (-19.5 to 11.6), Complex Attention -0.3 (-1.9 to 1.4), and Executive Function -0.2 (-3.5 to 3.0). Similarly, we found no change in maximal voluntary isometric strength -0.63 (-4.8 to 3.6), or rate of force development 14.8 (-12.6 to 42.2) of the shoulder external rotators. Finally, test-retest reliability of maximal voluntary contraction and rate of force development shoulder external rotation showed high reliability at 0 to 30 ms, 0 to 50 ms, 0 to 100 ms, and 0 to 200 ms with ICCs at 0.95, 0.92, 0.93, 0.92, and 0.91, respectively. CONCLUSION Ten weeks of PCMT did not improve neurocognitive or physical performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Jay
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Carrick Institute—Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Cape Canaveral, FL
| | - Mikkel Brandt
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - mc Schraefel
- Royal Academy of Engineering Research, Chair, London
- Engineering and Physical Sciences, Research Council, Swindon
- Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Emil Sundstrup
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gisela Sjøgaard
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Physical Activity and Health in Worklife, and Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences
| | - Jonas Vinstrup
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Lars L. Andersen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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On the interplay between chronic pain and age with regard to neurocognitive integrity: Two interacting conditions? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 69:174-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a disorder that is part of a spectrum of syndromes that lack precise classification. It is often considered as part of the global overview of functional somatic syndromes that are otherwise medically unexplained or part of a somatization disorder. Patients with fibromyalgia share symptoms with other functional somatic problems, including issues of myalgias, arthralgias, fatigue and sleep disturbances. Indeed, there is often diagnostic and classification overlap for the case definitions of a variety of somatization disorders. Fibromyalgia, however, is a critically important syndrome for physicians and scientists to be aware of. Patients should be taken very seriously and provided optimal care. Although inflammatory, infectious, and autoimmune disorders have all been ascribed to be etiological events in the development of fibromyalgia, there is very little data to support such a thesis. Many of these disorders are associated with depression and anxiety and may even be part of what has been sometimes called affected spectrum disorders. There is no evidence that physical trauma, i.e., automobile accidents, is associated with the development or exacerbation of fibromyalgia. Treatment should be placed on education, patient support, physical therapy, nutrition, and exercise, including the use of drugs that are approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia. Treatment should not include opiates and patients should not become poly pharmacies in which the treatment itself can lead to significant morbidities. Patients with fibromyalgia are living and not dying of this disorder and positive outlooks and family support are key elements in the management of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea T Borchers
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Suite 6510, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Suite 6510, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Vocal response inhibition is enhanced by anodal tDCS over the right prefrontal cortex. Exp Brain Res 2015; 234:185-95. [PMID: 26419662 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-015-4452-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Stopping outright (reactive inhibition) and slowing down (proactive inhibition) are types of response inhibition which have mainly been investigated in the manual effector system. This study compared reactive inhibition across manual and vocal effector systems, examined the effects of excitatory anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (anodal tDCS) over the right prefrontal cortex (right-PFC) and looked at the relationship between reactive and proactive inhibition. We hypothesised (1) that vocal reactive inhibition would be less effective than manual reactive inhibition as evidenced by longer stop signal reaction times; (2) that anodal tDCS would enhance both vocal and manual reactive inhibitions and (3) that proactive and reactive inhibitions would be positively related. We tested 14 participants over two sessions (one session with anodal tDCS and one session with sham stimulation) and applied stimulation protocol in the middle of the session, i.e. only during the second of three phases. We used a stop signal task across two stop conditions: relevant and irrelevant stop conditions in which stopping was required or ignored, respectively. We found that reactive inhibition was faster during and immediately after anodal tDCS relative to sham. We also found that greater level of proactive inhibition enhanced reactive inhibition (indexed by shorter stop signal reaction times). These results support the hypothesis that the right-PFC is part of a core network for reactive inhibition and supports previous contention that proactive inhibition is possibly modulated via preactivating the reactive inhibition network.
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Reyes Del Paso GA, Montoro CI, Duschek S. Reaction time, cerebral blood flow, and heart rate responses in fibromyalgia: Evidence of alterations in attentional control. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2015; 37:414-28. [PMID: 25825849 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2015.1023265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The study investigated cerebral blood flow (CBF) and heart rate (HR) responses during a cued reaction time (RT) task in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). CBF velocities in the middle (MCA) and anterior (ACA) cerebral arteries of both hemispheres were recorded in 46 patients and 32 healthy control participants using functional transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD). Patients exhibited markedly longer RT than healthy participants. Group differences in CBF responses were mainly observed for both ACAs, with greater right hemispherical increases but lower left hemispherical increases in FMS patients than in healthy participants. HR deceleration around the imperative stimulus was more pronounced in healthy participants. RT was inversely related to increases in CBF in both right arteries and in the left ACA in the FMS group, but was positively associated with CBF responses in all four arteries in healthy participants. The magnitude of task-induced HR deceleration correlated negatively with RT in both groups. Patients' clinical pain severity was positively associated with RT and CBF responses; trait anxiety and insomnia were secondary negative predictors of CBF responses. The study provided evidence of a deficit in the alertness component of attention in FMS at behavioral, CBF, and autonomic levels. These results may be interpreted in terms of the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence (i.e., less efficient brain activation during cognition in FMS) and the interfering effect of clinical factors on cognition. Clinical factors such as pain, anxiety, and sleep disturbances can affect cognition in FMS by interfering with CBF adjustment to cognitive demands.
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Tesio V, Torta DME, Colonna F, Leombruni P, Ghiggia A, Fusaro E, Geminiani GC, Torta R, Castelli L. Are Fibromyalgia Patients Cognitively Impaired? Objective and Subjective Neuropsychological Evidence. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2014; 67:143-50. [PMID: 25047247 DOI: 10.1002/acr.22403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tesio
- Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital and University of Turin; Turin Italy
| | | | | | - Paolo Leombruni
- Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital and University of Turin; Turin Italy
| | | | - Enrico Fusaro
- Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital; Turin Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Torta
- Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital and University of Turin; Turin Italy
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