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Pavy F, Zaman J, Van den Noortgate W, Scarpa A, von Leupoldt A, Torta DM. The effect of unpredictability on the perception of pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain 2024; 165:1702-1718. [PMID: 38422488 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003199] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Despite being widely assumed, the worsening impact of unpredictability on pain perception remains unclear because of conflicting empirical evidence, and a lack of systematic integration of past research findings. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on the effect of unpredictability on pain perception. We also conducted meta-regression analyses to examine the moderating effect of several moderators associated with pain and unpredictability: stimulus duration, calibrated stimulus pain intensity, pain intensity expectation, controllability, anticipation delay, state and trait negative affectivity, sex/gender and age of the participants, type of unpredictability (intensity, onset, duration, location), and method of pain induction (thermal, electrical, mechanical pressure, mechanical distention). We included 73 experimental studies with adult volunteers manipulating the (un)predictability of painful stimuli and measuring perceived pain intensity and pain unpleasantness in predictable and unpredictable contexts. Because there are insufficient studies with patients, we focused on healthy volunteers. Our results did not reveal any effect of unpredictability on pain perception. However, several significant moderators were found, ie, targeted stimulus pain intensity, expected pain intensity, and state negative affectivity. Trait negative affectivity and uncontrollability showed no significant effect, presumably because of the low number of included studies. Thus, further investigation is necessary to clearly determine their role in unpredictable pain perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Pavy
- Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonas Zaman
- Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- School of Social Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Wim Van den Noortgate
- Methodology of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, & Itec, an Imec Research Group, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aurelia Scarpa
- Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas von Leupoldt
- Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diana M Torta
- Research Group Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Peng W, Zhan Y, Jin R, Lou W, Li X. Aftereffects of alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation over the primary sensorimotor cortex on cortical processing of pain. Pain 2023; 164:1280-1290. [PMID: 36607274 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is believed to modulate brain oscillations in a frequency-specific manner. Given the correlation between sensorimotor α-oscillations and pain perception, tACS that targets sensorimotor α-oscillations has the potential to reduce pain. Therefore, this study sought to determine the aftereffects of α-tACS over unilateral primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) on the perceptual and neural responses to noxious painful stimulation of the contralateral hand. Using a double-blinded and sham-controlled design, 60 healthy participants were recruited to receive either α-tACS or sham stimulation of unilateral SM1 through an electrode montage in a 4 × 1 ring configuration. Neural responses to laser nociceptive stimuli were assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging immediately before and after α-tACS intervention. Perceptual reports were recorded simultaneously. Compared with sham stimulation, α-tACS attenuated bilateral SM1 responses to painful stimuli delivered to the contralateral hand. Although α-tACS did not exert direct effect on subjective pain perception, it can indirectly decrease ratings of pain perception by reducing brain activity within the targeted SM1. Moreover, α-tACS decreased the functional connectivity between the targeted SM1 and a network of regions that are crucially involved in pain processing, including the middle cingulate cortex, contralateral somatosensory cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. These results demonstrated that after α-tACS applied over the unilateral SM1 does attenuate subsequent neural processing of pain within bilateral sensorimotor regions as well as sensorimotor functional connectivity. The findings provide evidence that sensorimotor α-oscillations directly affect pain processing and support the application of sensorimotor α-tACS for inducing pain analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Peng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yilin Zhan
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Richu Jin
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wutao Lou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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3
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Corlier J, Tadayonnejad R, Wilson AC, Lee JC, Marder KG, Ginder ND, Wilke SA, Levitt J, Krantz D, Leuchter AF. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment of major depressive disorder and comorbid chronic pain: response rates and neurophysiologic biomarkers. Psychol Med 2023; 53:823-832. [PMID: 34154683 PMCID: PMC9976020 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721002178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) and chronic pain are highly comorbid, and pain symptoms are associated with a poorer response to antidepressant medication treatment. It is unclear whether comorbid pain also is associated with a poorer response to treatment with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). METHODS 162 MDD subjects received 30 sessions of 10 Hz rTMS treatment administered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) with depression and pain symptoms measured before and after treatment. For a subset of 96 patients, a resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded at baseline. Clinical outcome was compared between subjects with and without comorbid pain, and the relationships among outcome, pain severity, individual peak alpha frequency (PAF), and PAF phase-coherence in the EEG were examined. RESULTS 64.8% of all subjects reported pain, and both depressive and pain symptoms were significantly reduced after rTMS treatment, irrespective of age or gender. Patients with severe pain were 27% less likely to respond to MDD treatment than pain-free individuals. PAF was positively associated with pain severity. PAF phase-coherence in the somatosensory and default mode networks was significantly lower for MDD subjects with pain who failed to respond to MDD treatment. CONCLUSIONS Pain symptoms improved after rTMS to left DLPFC in MDD irrespective of age or gender, although the presence of chronic pain symptoms reduced the likelihood of treatment response. Individual PAF and baseline phase-coherence in the sensorimotor and midline regions may represent predictors of rTMS treatment outcome in comorbid pain and MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Corlier
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Reza Tadayonnejad
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Andrew C Wilson
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Jonathan C Lee
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Katharine G Marder
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Nathaniel D Ginder
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA
| | - Scott A Wilke
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Jennifer Levitt
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - David Krantz
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | - Andrew F Leuchter
- TMS Clinical and Research Service, Neuromodulation Division, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
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4
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Takeuchi N. Pain control based on oscillatory brain activity using transcranial alternating current stimulation: An integrative review. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:941979. [PMID: 36742359 PMCID: PMC9892942 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.941979] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing effective tools and strategies to relieve chronic pain is a high-priority scientific and clinical goal. In particular, the brain regions related to pain processing have been investigated as potential targets to relieve pain by non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). In addition to elucidating the relationship between pain and oscillatory brain activity, transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which can non-invasively entrain oscillatory brain activity and modulate oscillatory brain communication, has attracted scientific attention as a possible technique to control pain. This review focuses on the use of tACS to relieve pain through the manipulation of oscillatory brain activity and its potential clinical applications. Several studies have reported that tACS on a single brain reduces pain by normalizing abnormal oscillatory brain activity in patients with chronic pain. Interpersonal tACS approaches based on inter-brain synchrony to manipulate inter-brain communication may result in pain relief via prosocial effects. Pain is encoded by the spatiotemporal neural communication that represents the integration of cognitive, emotional-affective, and sensorimotor aspects of pain. Therefore, future studies should seek to identify the pathological oscillatory brain communication in chronic pain as a therapeutic target for tACS. In conclusion, tACS could be effective for re-establishing oscillatory brain activity and assisting social interaction, and it might help develop novel approaches for pain control.
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5
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Shi J, Hu ZY, Wen YR, Wang YF, Lin YY, Zhao HZ, Lin YT, Wang YL. Optimal modes of mind-body exercise for treating chronic non-specific low back pain: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1046518. [PMID: 36466167 PMCID: PMC9713308 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1046518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There were limited studies that directly compare the outcomes of various mind-body exercise (MBE) therapies on chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy of the four most popular MBE modes [Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi (TC), and Qigong] in clinically CNLBP patients, we conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS We searched databases for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (from origin to July 2022). RCTs were eligible if they included adults with CNLBP, and implemented one or more MBE intervention arms using Pilates, yoga, TC, and qigong. In addition, pain intensity and physical function were evaluated using validated questionnaires. RESULTS NMA was carried out on 36 eligible RCTs involving 3,050 participants. The effect of exercise therapy on pain was in the following rankings: Pilates [Surface under cumulative ranking (SUCRA) = 86.6%], TC (SUCRA = 77.2%), yoga (SUCRA = 67.6%), and qigong (SUCRA = 64.6%). The effect of exercise therapy on function: Pilates (SUCRA = 98.4%), qigong (SUCRA = 61.6%,), TC (SUCRA = 59.5%) and yoga (SUCRA = 59.0%). CONCLUSION Our NMA shows that Pilates might be the best MBE therapy for CNLBP in pain intensity and physical function. TC is second only to Pilates in improving pain in patients with CNLBP and has the value of promotion. In the future, we need more high-quality, long-term follow-up RCTs to confirm our findings. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=306905, identifier: CRD42022306905.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Shi
- College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng-Yu Hu
- College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Rong Wen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Fei Wang
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang-Yang Lin
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao-Zhi Zhao
- College of Kinesiology, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - You-Tian Lin
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Postgraduate Research Institute, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Ling Wang
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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6
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Chang TT, Chang YH, Du SH, Chen PJ, Wang XQ. Non-invasive brain neuromodulation techniques for chronic low back pain. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1032617. [PMID: 36340685 PMCID: PMC9627199 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1032617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and functional changes of the brain occur in many chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain (CLBP), and these brain abnormalities can be reversed by effective treatment. Research on the clinical applications of non-invasive brain neuromodulation (NIBS) techniques for chronic pain is increasing. Unfortunately, little is known about the effectiveness of NIBS on CLBP, which limits its application in clinical pain management. Therefore, we summarized the effectiveness and limitations of NIBS techniques on CLBP management and described the effects and mechanisms of NIBS approaches on CLBP in this review. Overall, NIBS may be effective for the treatment of CLBP. And the analgesic mechanisms of NIBS for CLBP may involve the regulation of pain signal pathway, synaptic plasticity, neuroprotective effect, neuroinflammation modulation, and variations in cerebral blood flow and metabolism. Current NIBS studies for CLBP have limitations, such as small sample size, relative low quality of evidence, and lack of mechanistic studies. Further studies on the effect of NIBS are needed, especially randomized controlled trials with high quality and large sample size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Tian Chang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu-Hao Chang
- Department of Luoyang Postgraduate Training, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Luoyang, China
| | - Shu-Hao Du
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei-Jie Chen
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Pei-Jie Chen,
| | - Xue-Qiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Xue-Qiang Wang,
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7
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Using High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Treat Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Double-Blinded Controlled Study. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091364. [PMID: 36143400 PMCID: PMC9506250 DOI: 10.3390/life12091364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) to the left primary motor cortex (M1) in the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial, patients with FM were recruited in a teaching hospital. Thirty-eight patients were randomized to active HD-tACS (n = 19) or sham stimulation (n = 19). Active stimulation included a daily session of 20-min stimulation of 1 mA HD-tACS over the left M1 for ten sessions in two weeks. The primary outcome was the change in pain intensity and quality of life, assessed using the numeric rating scale (NRS) and the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) at baseline and after two weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes included other core symptoms of FM (psychological distress, sleep quality, hyperalgesia measured by pressure pain threshold) and changes in biomarkers’ total Tau and Aβ1-42. All analyses were based on intention-to-treat for a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: Of the 38 randomized patients, 35 completed the study. After two weeks, HD-tACS induced a significant reduction in FIQ score post-treatment. However, there were no significant differences in NRS and FIQ scores compared to sham stimulation. Most adverse events were mild in severity. Nevertheless, one patient receiving HD-tACS attempted suicide during the trial. Conclusions: These results suggest that HD-tACS may effectively reduce pain, psychological distress, and symptom impacts in FM patients. However, we found no significant differences between the two groups. Future studies investigating HD-tACS in FM are warranted.
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8
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Xiong HY, Zheng JJ, Wang XQ. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for Chronic Pain: State of the Art and Future Directions. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:888716. [PMID: 35694444 PMCID: PMC9179147 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.888716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As a technique that can guide brain plasticity, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has the potential to improve the treatment of chronic pain (CP) because it can interfere with ongoing brain neural activity to regulate specific neural networks related to pain management. Treatments of CP with various forms of NIBS, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), using new parameters of stimulation have achieved encouraging results. Evidence of moderate quality indicates that high-frequency rTMS of the primary motor cortex has a clear effect on neuropathic pain (NP) and fibromyalgia. However, evidence on its effectiveness regarding pain relief in other CP conditions is conflicting. Concerning tDCS, evidence of low quality supports its benefit for CP treatment. However, evidence suggesting that it exerts a small treatment effect on NP and headaches is also conflicting. In this paper, we describe the underlying principles behind these commonly used stimulation techniques; and summarize the results of randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Future research should focus on a better evaluation of the short-term and long-term effectiveness of all NIBS techniques and whether they decrease healthcare use, as well as on the refinement of selection criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Yu Xiong
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Xue-Qiang Wang
- Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Shangti Orthopaedic Hospital, Shanghai, China
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9
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Assessing the specificity of the relationship between brain alpha oscillations and tonic pain. Neuroimage 2022; 255:119143. [PMID: 35378288 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research proposed that the slowing of individual alpha frequency (IAF) could be an objective marker of pain. However, it is unclear whether this research can fully address the requirements of specificity and sensitivity of IAF to the pain experience. Here, we sought to develop a robust methodology for assessing the specificity of the relationship between alpha oscillations and acute tonic pain in healthy individuals. We recorded electroencephalography (EEG) of 36 volunteers during consecutive 5-minute sessions of painful hot water immersion, innocuous warm water immersion and aversive, non-painful auditory stimulus, matched by unpleasantness to the painful condition. Participants rated stimulus unpleasantness throughout each condition. We isolated two regions of the scalp displaying peak alpha activity across participants: centro-parietal (CP) and parieto-occipital (PO) ROI. In line with previous research our findings revealed decreased IAF during hot compared with warm stimulation, however the effect was not specific for pain as we found no difference between hot and sound in the CP ROI (compared to baseline). In contrast, the PO ROI reported the same pattern of differences, but their direction was opposite to the CP in that this ROI revealed faster frequency during hot condition than controls. Finally, we show that IAF in both ROIs did not mediate the relationship between the experimental manipulation and the affective experience. Altogether, these findings emphasize the importance of a robust methodological and analytical design to disclose the functional role of alpha oscillations during affective processing. Likewise, they suggest the absence of a causal role of IAF in the generation of acute pain experience in healthy individuals.
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10
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Beetz G, Herrero Babiloni A, Jodoin M, Charlebois-Plante C, Lavigne GJ, De Beaumont L, Rouleau DM. Relevance of Sleep Disturbances to Orthopaedic Surgery: A Current Concepts Narrative and Practical Review. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2021; 103:2045-2056. [PMID: 34478407 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.21.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
➤ Sleep disturbances can increase the risk of falls and motor vehicle accidents and may reduce bone density. ➤ Poor sleep can lead to worse outcomes after fracture, such as chronic pain and delayed recovery. ➤ Orthopaedic surgeons can play an important role in the screening of sleep disorders among their patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Beetz
- Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alberto Herrero Babiloni
- Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marianne Jodoin
- Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Gilles J Lavigne
- Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Louis De Beaumont
- Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dominique M Rouleau
- Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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11
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May ES, Hohn VD, Nickel MM, Tiemann L, Gil Ávila C, Heitmann H, Sauseng P, Ploner M. Modulating Brain Rhythms of Pain Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) - A Sham-Controlled Study in Healthy Human Participants. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2021; 22:1256-1272. [PMID: 33845173 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2021.03.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a major health care problem. A better mechanistic understanding and new treatment approaches are urgently needed. In the brain, pain has been associated with neural oscillations at alpha and gamma frequencies, which can be targeted using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Thus, we investigated the potential of tACS to modulate pain and pain-related autonomic activity in an experimental model of chronic pain in 29 healthy participants. In 6 recording sessions, participants completed a tonic heat pain paradigm and simultaneously received tACS over prefrontal or somatosensory cortices at alpha or gamma frequencies or sham tACS. Concurrently, pain ratings and autonomic responses were collected. Using the present setup, tACS did not modulate pain or autonomic responses. Bayesian statistics confirmed a lack of tACS effects in most conditions. The only exception was alpha tACS over somatosensory cortex where evidence was inconclusive. Taken together, we did not find significant tACS effects on tonic experimental pain in healthy humans. Based on our present and previous findings, further studies might apply refined stimulation protocols targeting somatosensory alpha oscillations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03805854). PERSPECTIVE: Modulating brain oscillations is a promising approach for the treatment of pain. We therefore applied transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to modulate experimental pain in healthy participants. However, tACS did not modulate pain, autonomic responses, or EEG oscillations. These findings help to shape future tACS studies for the treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth S May
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Vanessa D Hohn
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz M Nickel
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Tiemann
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Cristina Gil Ávila
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Henrik Heitmann
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany; Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Sauseng
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Ploner
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany; Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, TUM, Munich, Germany.
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12
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Kandić M, Moliadze V, Andoh J, Flor H, Nees F. Brain Circuits Involved in the Development of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Evidence From Non-invasive Brain Stimulation. Front Neurol 2021; 12:732034. [PMID: 34531819 PMCID: PMC8438114 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.732034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been well-documented that the brain changes in states of chronic pain. Less is known about changes in the brain that predict the transition from acute to chronic pain. Evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests a shift from brain regions involved in nociceptive processing to corticostriatal brain regions that are instrumental in the processing of reward and emotional learning in the transition to the chronic state. In addition, dysfunction in descending pain modulatory circuits encompassing the periaqueductal gray and the rostral anterior cingulate cortex may also be a key risk factor for pain chronicity. Although longitudinal imaging studies have revealed potential predictors of pain chronicity, their causal role has not yet been determined. Here we review evidence from studies that involve non-invasive brain stimulation to elucidate to what extent they may help to elucidate the brain circuits involved in pain chronicity. Especially, we focus on studies using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques [e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), particularly its repetitive form (rTMS), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)] in the context of musculoskeletal pain chronicity. We focus on the role of the motor cortex because of its known contribution to sensory components of pain via thalamic inhibition, and the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex because of its role on cognitive and affective processing of pain. We will also discuss findings from studies using experimentally induced prolonged pain and studies implicating the DLPFC, which may shed light on the earliest transition phase to chronicity. We propose that combined brain stimulation and imaging studies might further advance mechanistic models of the chronicity process and involved brain circuits. Implications and challenges for translating the research on mechanistic models of the development of chronic pain to clinical practice will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Kandić
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Vera Moliadze
- Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jamila Andoh
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Herta Flor
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frauke Nees
- Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.,Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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13
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Janssens SEW, Sack AT, Ten Oever S, de Graaf TA. Calibrating rhythmic stimulation parameters to individual EEG markers: the consistency of individual alpha frequency in practical lab settings. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:3418-3437. [PMID: 34363269 PMCID: PMC9541964 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Rhythmic stimulation can be applied to modulate neuronal oscillations. Such 'entrainment' is optimized when stimulation frequency is individually-calibrated based on magneto/encephalography markers. It remains unknown how consistent such individual markers are across days/sessions, within a session, or across cognitive states, hemispheres, and estimation methods, especially in a realistic, practical, lab setting. We here estimated individual alpha frequency (IAF) repeatedly from short EEG measurements at rest or during an attention task (cognitive state), using single parieto-occipital electrodes in 24 participants on four days (between-sessions), with multiple measurements over an hour on one day (within-session). First, we introduce an algorithm to automatically reject power spectra without a sufficiently clear peak to ensure unbiased IAF estimations. Then we estimated IAF via the traditional 'maximum' method and a 'Gaussian fit' method. IAF was reliable within- and between-sessions for both cognitive states and hemispheres, though task-IAF estimates tended to be more variable. Overall, the 'Gaussian fit' method was more reliable than the 'maximum' method. Furthermore, we evaluated how far from an approximated 'true' task-related IAF the selected 'stimulation frequency' was, when calibrating this frequency based on a short rest-EEG, a short task-EEG, or simply selecting 10Hertz for all participants. For the 'maximum' method, rest-EEG calibration was best, followed by task-EEG, and then 10 Hertz. For the 'Gaussian fit' method, rest-EEG and task-EEG-based calibration were similarly accurate, and better than 10 Hertz. These results lead to concrete recommendations about valid, and automated, estimation of individual oscillation markers in experimental and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanice E W Janssens
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander T Sack
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Brain+Nerve Centre , Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Ten Oever
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Language and Computation in Neural Systems Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Donders Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Tom A de Graaf
- Section Brain Stimulation and Cognition, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Center for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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14
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Tan LL, Kuner R. Neocortical circuits in pain and pain relief. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:458-471. [PMID: 34127843 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00468-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The sensory, associative and limbic neocortical structures play a critical role in shaping incoming noxious inputs to generate variable pain perceptions. Technological advances in tracing circuitry and interrogation of pathways and complex behaviours are now yielding critical knowledge of neocortical circuits, cellular contributions and causal relationships between pain perception and its abnormalities in chronic pain. Emerging insights into neocortical pain processing suggest the existence of neocortical causality and specificity for pain at the level of subdomains, circuits and cellular entities and the activity patterns they encode. These mechanisms provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention for improved pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linette Liqi Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
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15
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Towards the endotyping of the sleep-pain interaction: a topical review on multitarget strategies based on phenotypic vulnerabilities and putative pathways. Pain 2021; 162:1281-1288. [PMID: 33105436 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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16
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Arendsen LJ, Guggenberger R, Zimmer M, Weigl T, Gharabaghi A. Peripheral Electrical Stimulation Modulates Cortical Beta-Band Activity. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:632234. [PMID: 33867919 PMCID: PMC8044771 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.632234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-frequency peripheral electrical stimulation using a matrix electrode (PEMS) modulates spinal nociceptive pathways. However, the effects of this intervention on cortical oscillatory activity have not been assessed yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low-frequency PEMS (4 Hz) on cortical oscillatory activity in different brain states in healthy pain-free participants. In experiment 1, PEMS was compared to sham stimulation. In experiment 2, motor imagery (MI) was used to modulate the sensorimotor brain state. PEMS was applied either during MI-induced oscillatory desynchronization (concurrent PEMS) or after MI (delayed PEMS) in a cross-over design. For both experiments, PEMS was applied on the left forearm and resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was recording before and after each stimulation condition. Experiment 1 showed a significant decrease of global resting-state beta power after PEMS compared to sham (p = 0.016), with a median change from baseline of −16% for PEMS and −0.54% for sham. A cluster-based permutation test showed a significant difference in resting-state beta power comparing pre- and post-PEMS (p = 0.018) that was most pronounced over bilateral central and left frontal sensors. Experiment 2 did not identify a significant difference in the change from baseline of global EEG power for concurrent PEMS compared to delayed PEMS. Two cluster-based permutation tests suggested that frontal beta power may be increased following both concurrent and delayed PEMS. This study provides novel evidence for supraspinal effects of low-frequency PEMS and an initial indication that the presence of a cognitive task such as MI may influence the effects of PEMS on beta activity. Chronic pain has been associated with changes in beta activity, in particular an increase of beta power in frontal regions. Thus, brain state-dependent PEMS may offer a novel approach to the treatment of chronic pain. However, further studies are warranted to investigate optimal stimulation conditions to achieve a reduction of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Arendsen
- Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Guggenberger
- Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Manuela Zimmer
- Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Weigl
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alireza Gharabaghi
- Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Wang P, Zhu M, Mo S, Li X, Wang J. The effect of somatosensory alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation on pain empathy is trait empathy and gender dependent. CNS Neurosci Ther 2021; 27:687-693. [PMID: 33739605 PMCID: PMC8111491 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pain empathy enables a person to experience and understand other's pain state by observing others in pain condition. Such prosocial ability is deficient in many psychopathological disorders. Somatosensory alpha suppression is considered as neural correlates of pain empathy and is hypothesized as a target for enhancement of pain empathy. Researches demonstrated that alpha suppression could be enhanced by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at alpha frequency non‐invasively. Aims We applied alpha tACS over the primary somatosensory cortex of healthy subjects to investigate whether alpha tACS is able to enhance the pain empathy performance. Results The results showed that there was no difference of pain empathy performance between alpha tACS and sham tACS either when tACS was applied during the task or before task. While in the alpha tACS group, the pain empathy performance was positively correlated with empathic concern of male subjects, the sub‐component of personal trait empathy. Conclusions Alpha tACS cannot alter the empathy performance overall, but the modulation effect of alpha tACS on pain empathy is dependent on the gender and trait empathy of subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Minjia Zhu
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaohua Mo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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18
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Lajoie K, Marigold DS, Valdés BA, Menon C. The potential of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation for optimizing and assisting human performance. Neuropsychologia 2021; 152:107751. [PMID: 33434573 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (nGVS) is an emerging non-invasive brain stimulation technique. It involves applying alternating currents of different frequencies and amplitudes presented in a random, or noisy, manner through electrodes on the mastoid bones behind the ears. Because it directly activates vestibular hair cells and afferents and has an indirect effect on a variety of brain regions, it has the potential to impact many different functions. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to review how nGVS affects motor, sensory, and cognitive performance in healthy adults; and (2) to discuss potential clinical applications of nGVS. First, we introduce the technique. We then describe the regions receiving and processing vestibular information. Next, we discuss the effects of nGVS on motor, sensory, and cognitive function in healthy adults. Subsequently, we outline its potential clinical applications. Finally, we highlight other electrical stimulation technologies and discuss why nGVS offers an alternative or complementary approach. Overall, nGVS appears promising for optimizing human performance and as an assistive technology, though further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Lajoie
- Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel S Marigold
- Sensorimotor Neuroscience Lab, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | - Bulmaro A Valdés
- Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carlo Menon
- Menrva Research Group, Schools of Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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19
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Lloyd DM, Wittkopf PG, Arendsen LJ, Jones AK. Is Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Effective for the Treatment of Pain in Fibromyalgia? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2020; 21:1085-1100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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20
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Abstract
Neural oscillations play an important role in the integration and segregation of brain regions that are important for brain functions, including pain. Disturbances in oscillatory activity are associated with several disease states, including chronic pain. Studies of neural oscillations related to pain have identified several functional bands, especially alpha, beta, and gamma bands, implicated in nociceptive processing. In this review, we introduce several properties of neural oscillations that are important to understand the role of brain oscillations in nociceptive processing. We also discuss the role of neural oscillations in the maintenance of efficient communication in the brain. Finally, we discuss the role of neural oscillations in healthy and chronic pain nociceptive processing. These data and concepts illustrate the key role of regional and interregional neural oscillations in nociceptive processing underlying acute and chronic pains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junseok A. Kim
- Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour, Krembil Brain Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen D. Davis
- Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour, Krembil Brain Institute, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Arendsen LJ, Henshaw J, Brown CA, Sivan M, Taylor JR, Trujillo-Barreto NJ, Casson AJ, Jones AKP. Entraining Alpha Activity Using Visual Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Feasibility Study. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:828. [PMID: 32973429 PMCID: PMC7468433 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Entraining alpha activity with rhythmic visual, auditory, and electrical stimulation can reduce experimentally induced pain. However, evidence for alpha entrainment and pain reduction in patients with chronic pain is limited. This feasibility study investigated whether visual alpha stimulation can increase alpha power in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain and, secondarily, if chronic pain was reduced following stimulation. In a within-subject design, 20 patients underwent 4-min periods of stimulation at 10 Hz (alpha), 7 Hz (high-theta, control), and 1 Hz (control) in a pseudo-randomized order. Patients underwent stimulation both sitting and standing and verbally rated their pain before and after each stimulation block on a 0-10 numerical rating scale. Global alpha power was significantly higher during 10 Hz compared to 1 Hz stimulation when patients were standing (t = -6.08, p < 0.001). On a more regional level, a significant increase of alpha power was found for 10 Hz stimulation in the right-middle and left-posterior region when patients were sitting. With respect to our secondary aim, no significant reduction of pain intensity and unpleasantness was found. However, only the alpha stimulation resulted in a minimal clinically important difference in at least 50% of participants for pain intensity (50%) and unpleasantness ratings (65%) in the sitting condition. This study provides initial evidence for the potential of visual stimulation as a means to enhance alpha activity in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The brief period of stimulation was insufficient to reduce chronic pain significantly. This study is the first to provide evidence that a brief period of visual stimulation at alpha frequency can significantly increase alpha power in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. A further larger study is warranted to investigate optimal dose and individual stimulation parameters to achieve pain relief in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Arendsen
- Division of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, Eberhart Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - James Henshaw
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher A. Brown
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Manoj Sivan
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jason R. Taylor
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nelson J. Trujillo-Barreto
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J. Casson
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony K. P. Jones
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Locke HN, Brooks J, Arendsen LJ, Jacob NK, Casson A, Jones AKP, Sivan M. Acceptability and usability of smartphone-based brainwave entrainment technology used by individuals with chronic pain in a home setting. Br J Pain 2020; 14:161-170. [PMID: 32922777 PMCID: PMC7453483 DOI: 10.1177/2049463720908798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brainwave entrainment (BWE) using rhythmic visual or auditory stimulation has many potential clinical applications, including the management of chronic pain, where there is a pressing need for novel, safe and effective treatments. The aim of this study was to gain qualitative feedback on the acceptability and usability of a novel BWE smartphone application, to ensure it meets the needs and wishes of end users. METHODS Fifteen participants with chronic pain used the application at home for 4 weeks. Semi-structured telephone interviews were then carried out. A template analysis approach was used to interpret the findings, with an initial coding template structured around the constructs of a theoretical framework for assessing acceptability of healthcare interventions. Structured data analysis generated a final modified coding structure, capturing themes generated across participants' accounts. RESULTS The four main themes were 'approach to trying out the app: affective attitude and ethicality', 'perceived effectiveness', 'opportunity costs and burden' and 'intervention coherence and self-efficacy'. All participants were willing to engage with the technology and welcomed it as an alternative approach to medications. Participants appreciated the simplicity of design and the ability to choose between visual or auditory stimulation. All the participants felt confident in using the application. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrate preliminary support for the acceptability and usability of the BWE application. This is the first qualitative study of BWE to systematically assess these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen N Locke
- Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Leeds Institute of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Joanna Brooks
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Laura J Arendsen
- Division of Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nikhil Kurian Jacob
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alex Casson
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Anthony KP Jones
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Manoj Sivan
- Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Leeds Institute of Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
- Human Pain Research Group, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Meeker TJ, Jupudi R, Lenz FA, Greenspan JD. New Developments in Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Chronic Pain. CURRENT PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION REPORTS 2020; 8:280-292. [PMID: 33473332 DOI: 10.1007/s40141-020-00260-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The goal of this review is to present a summary of the recent literature of a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to alleviate pain in people with chronic pain syndromes. This article reviews the current evidence for the use of transcranial direct current (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve outcomes in chronic pain. Finally, we introduce the reader to novel stimulation methods that may improve therapeutic outcomes in chronic pain. Recent Findings While tDCS is approved for treatment of fibromyalgia in Canada and the European Union, no NIBS method is currently approved for chronic pain in the United States. Increasing sample sizes in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) seems the most efficient way to increase confidence in initial promising results. Trends at funding agencies reveal increased interest and support for NIBS such as recent Requests for Application from the National Institutes of Health. NIBS in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy and physical therapy may enhance outcomes in chronic pain. Novel stimulation methods, such as transcranial ultrasound stimulation, await rigorous study in chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Meeker
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Dept. of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, and Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, Univ. of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rithvic Jupudi
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Frederik A Lenz
- Dept. of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joel D Greenspan
- Dept. of Neural and Pain Sciences, School of Dentistry, and Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, Univ. of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
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24
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Ahmed H, Jones A, Sivan M. The brain alpha rhythm in the perception and modulation of pain. ADVANCES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE & REHABILITATION 2020. [DOI: 10.47795/gbpd9851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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From correlation towards causality: modulating brain rhythms of pain using transcranial alternating current stimulation. Pain Rep 2019; 4:e723. [PMID: 31579843 PMCID: PMC6727992 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Accumulating evidence suggests that neural oscillations at different frequencies and their synchrony between brain regions play a crucial role in the processing of nociceptive input and the emergence of pain. Most findings are limited by their correlative nature, however, which impedes causal inferences. Objective To move from correlative towards causal evidence, methods that allow to experimentally manipulate oscillatory brain activity are needed. Results Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique designed to modulate neural oscillations in a frequency specific manner and as such a suitable method to investigate the contribution of oscillatory brain activity to pain. Despite its appeal, tACS has been barely applied in the field of pain research. In the present review, we address this issue and discuss how tACS can be used to gather mechanistic evidence for the relationship between pain and neural oscillations in humans. Conclusions Transcranial alternating current stimulation holds great potential for the investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying pain and the development of new treatment approaches for chronic pain if necessary methodological precautions are taken.
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Ahn S, Prim JH, Alexander ML, McCulloch KL, Fröhlich F. Identifying and Engaging Neuronal Oscillations by Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2019; 20:277.e1-277.e11. [PMID: 30268803 PMCID: PMC6382517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is associated with maladaptive reorganization of the central nervous system. Recent studies have suggested that disorganization of large-scale electrical brain activity patterns, such as neuronal network oscillations in the thalamocortical system, plays a key role in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. Yet, little is known about whether and how such network pathologies can be targeted with noninvasive brain stimulation as a nonpharmacological treatment option. We hypothesized that alpha oscillations, a prominent thalamocortical activity pattern in the human brain, are impaired in chronic pain and can be modulated with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). We performed a randomized, crossover, double-blind, sham-controlled study in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to investigate how alpha oscillations relate to pain symptoms for target identification and whether tACS can engage this target and thereby induce pain relief. We used high-density electroencephalography to measure alpha oscillations and found that the oscillation strength in the somatosensory region at baseline before stimulation was negatively correlated with pain symptoms. Stimulation with alpha-tACS compared to sham (placebo) stimulation significantly enhanced alpha oscillations in the somatosensory region. The stimulation-induced increase of alpha oscillations in the somatosensory region was correlated with pain relief. Given these findings of successful target identification and engagement, we propose that modulating alpha oscillations with tACS may represent a target-specific, nonpharmacological treatment approach for CLBP. This trial has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03243084). PERSPECTIVE: This study suggests that a rational design of transcranial alternating current stimulation, which is target identification, engagement, and validation, could be a nonpharmacological treatment approach for patients with CLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangtae Ahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Julianna H Prim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Morgan L Alexander
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Karen L McCulloch
- Human Movement Science Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Division of Physical Therapy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - Flavio Fröhlich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Carolina Center for Neurostimulation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599; Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599..
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Liu S, Ma R, Liu X, Zhang C, Chen Y, Jin C, Wang H, Cui J, Zhang X. Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to Improve Romantic Relationships Can Be a Promising Approach. Front Psychol 2019; 10:365. [PMID: 30863342 PMCID: PMC6399378 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The romantic relationship refers to the specific relationship in which partners are dependent upon each other to obtain satisfactory outcomes and facilitate the pursuit of their most important needs and goals. Satisfying romantic relationships is a strong predictor of better psychological well-being, better physical health, and longer life expectancy. However, romantic relationships are not all smooth-sailing and lovers are often confronted with a variety of unavoidable issues that constantly challenge the stability of their romantic relationships. Dissatisfying romantic relationships are harmful and even destructive. Dyads of lovers engage in a variety of efforts to protect and maintain their romantic relationships based on qualitative research methods including theories- and psychological consultation-based approaches. Unfortunately, those existing approaches do not seem to effectively improve romantic relationships. Thus, it is necessary to seek an efficient approach regulating dyads of lovers in romantic relationships simultaneously. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with advantages over existing approaches satisfies this purpose. We discuss the practicability of tACS in detail, as well as why and how tACS can be utilized to improve romantic relationships. In summary, this review firstly introduced the concept of romantic relationship and the necessity of enhancing it. Then, it discussed methods to improve romantic relationships including some existing approaches. This review next discussed the practicability of using tACS to improve romantic relationships. Finally, it shone a spotlight on potential future directions for researches aiming to improve romantic relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Liu
- School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ru Ma
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- School of Foreign Languages, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yijun Chen
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chenggong Jin
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Hangwei Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jiangtian Cui
- Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaochu Zhang
- School of Humanities and Social Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei Medical Research Center on Alcohol Addiction, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
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28
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Craddock M, Klepousniotou E, El-Deredy W, Poliakoff E, Lloyd D. Transcranial alternating current stimulation at 10 Hz modulates response bias in the Somatic Signal Detection Task. Int J Psychophysiol 2019; 135:106-112. [PMID: 30528832 PMCID: PMC6327150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Ongoing, pre-stimulus oscillatory activity in the 8-13 Hz alpha range has been shown to correlate with both true and false reports of peri-threshold somatosensory stimuli. However, to directly test the role of such oscillatory activity in behaviour, it is necessary to manipulate it. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offers a method of directly manipulating oscillatory brain activity using a sinusoidal current passed to the scalp. We tested whether alpha tACS would change somatosensory sensitivity or response bias in a signal detection task in order to test whether alpha oscillations have a causal role in behaviour. Active 10 Hz tACS or sham stimulation was applied using electrodes placed bilaterally at positions CP3 and CP4 of the 10-20 electrode placement system. Participants performed the Somatic Signal Detection Task (SSDT), in which they must detect brief somatosensory targets delivered at their detection threshold. These targets are sometimes accompanied by a light flash, which could also occur alone. Active tACS did not modulate sensitivity to targets but did modulate response criterion. Specifically, we found that active stimulation generally increased touch reporting rates, but particularly increased responding on light trials. Stimulation did not interact with the presence of touch, and thus increased both hits and false alarms. TACS stimulation increased reports of touch in a manner consistent with our observational reports, changing response bias, and consistent with a role for alpha activity in somatosensory detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Craddock
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK
| | | | - Wael El-Deredy
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería en Salud, Universidad de Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Ellen Poliakoff
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Donna Lloyd
- School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
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29
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How variability in pain and pain coping relate to pain interference during multistage ultramarathons. Pain 2018; 160:257-262. [PMID: 30204649 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
An important and substantial body of literature has established that maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies significantly impact pain-related outcomes. This literature, however, is based primarily on populations with painful injuries and illnesses. Little is known about coping in individuals who experience pain in other contexts and whether coping impacts outcomes in the same way. In an effort to better understand pain coping in such contexts, this study evaluated pain coping in ultramarathon runners, a population known to experience moderate levels of pain with minimal perceived negative effects. This study reports on pain coping in 204 entrants in 2016 RacingThePlanet multistage ultramarathon events. Participants provided data over 5 consecutive days on pain severity, pain interference, exertion, and coping. Results demonstrated that the study participants were more likely to use adaptive than maladaptive coping responses. However, maladaptive coping, but not adaptive coping, was positively associated with percent time spent thinking about pain and pain-related interference. Taken together, the study supports the idea that this high functioning group of individuals experiencing pain emphasizes the use of adaptive coping strategies over maladaptive strategies, reinforcing the perspective that such a pattern may be the most effective way to cope with pain. Within the group, however, results supported traditional patterns, such that greater use of maladaptive strategies was associated with greater pain-related interference, suggesting that optimizing pain coping may be critical to reducing factors that may interfere with ultramarathon performance.
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