1
|
In A, Strohman A, Payne B, Legon W. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to the posterior insula reduces temporal summation of pain. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:911-924. [PMID: 39089647 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.07.020] [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: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) are core brain regions involved in pain processing and central sensitization, a shared mechanism across various chronic pain conditions. Methods to modulate these regions may serve to reduce central sensitization, though it is unclear which target may be most efficacious for different measures of central sensitization. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS Investigate the effect of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to the anterior insula (AI), posterior insula (PI), or dACC on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation of pain (TSP). METHODS N = 16 volunteers underwent TSP and CPM pain tasks pre/post a 10 min LIFU intervention to either the AI, PI, dACC or Sham stimulation. Pain ratings were collected pre/post LIFU. RESULTS Only LIFU to the PI significantly attenuated pain ratings during the TSP protocol. No effects were found for the CPM task for any of the LIFU targets. LIFU pressure modulated group means but did not affect overall group differences. CONCLUSIONS LIFU to the PI reduced temporal summation of pain. This may, in part, be due to dosing (pressure) of LIFU. Inhibition of the PI with LIFU may be a future potential therapy in chronic pain populations demonstrating central sensitization. The minimal effective dose of LIFU for efficacious neuromodulation will help to translate LIFU for therapeutic options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander In
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Andrew Strohman
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Brighton Payne
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Wynn Legon
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24016, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Legon W, Strohman A, In A, Payne B. Noninvasive neuromodulation of subregions of the human insula differentially affect pain processing and heart-rate variability: a within-subjects pseudo-randomized trial. Pain 2024; 165:1625-1641. [PMID: 38314779 PMCID: PMC11189760 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003171] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The insula is an intriguing target for pain modulation. Unfortunately, it lies deep to the cortex making spatially specific noninvasive access difficult. Here, we leverage the high spatial resolution and deep penetration depth of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to nonsurgically modulate the anterior insula (AI) or posterior insula (PI) in humans for effect on subjective pain ratings, electroencephalographic (EEG) contact heat-evoked potentials, as well as autonomic measures including heart-rate variability (HRV). In a within-subjects, repeated-measures, pseudo-randomized trial design, 23 healthy volunteers received brief noxious heat pain stimuli to the dorsum of their right hand during continuous heart-rate, electrodermal, electrocardiography and EEG recording. Low-intensity focused ultrasound was delivered to the AI (anterior short gyrus), PI (posterior longus gyrus), or under an inert Sham condition. The primary outcome measure was pain rating. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to both AI and PI similarly reduced pain ratings but had differential effects on EEG activity. Low-intensity focused ultrasound to PI affected earlier EEG amplitudes, whereas LIFU to AI affected later EEG amplitudes. Only LIFU to the AI affected HRV as indexed by an increase in SD of N-N intervals and mean HRV low-frequency power. Taken together, LIFU is an effective noninvasive method to individually target subregions of the insula in humans for site-specific effects on brain biomarkers of pain processing and autonomic reactivity that translates to reduced perceived pain to a transient heat stimulus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wynn Legon
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Andrew Strohman
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Alexander In
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Brighton Payne
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang B, Guo M, Dong T, Yang H, Zhang Q, Yang Q, Zhou X, Mao C, Zhang M. Disrupted Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Effective Connectivity of the Nucleus Accumbens in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Pain Res 2024; 17:2133-2146. [PMID: 38915479 PMCID: PMC11194467 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s455239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a recurring and intractable disease that is often accompanied by emotional and cognitive disorders such as depression and anxiety. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an important role in mediating emotional and cognitive processes and analgesia. This study investigated the resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and effective connectivity (EC) of NAc and its subregions in cLBP. Methods Thirty-four cLBP patients and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Seed-based rsFC and Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) were used to examine the alteration of the rsFC and EC of the NAc. Results Our results showed that the cLBP group had increased rsFC of the bilateral NAc-left superior frontal cortex (SFC), orbital frontal cortex (OFC), left angular gyrus, the left NAc-bilateral middle temporal gyrus, as well as decreased rsFC of left NAc-left supramarginal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left cerebellum, brainstem (medulla oblongata), and right insula pathways compared with the HC; the results of the subregions were largely consistent with the whole NAc. In addition, the rsFC of the left NAc-left SFC was negatively correlated with Hamilton's Depression Scale (HAMD) scores (r = -0.402, p = 0.018), and the rsFC of left NAc-OFC was positively correlated with present pain intensity scores (r = 0.406, p = 0.017) in the cLBP group. DCM showed that the cLBP group showed significantly increased EC from the left cerebellum to the right NAc (p = 0.012) as compared with HC. Conclusion Overall, our findings demonstrate aberrant rsFC and EC between NAc and regions that are associated with emotional regulation and cognitive processing in individuals with cLBP, underscoring the pivotal roles of emotion and cognition in cLBP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Minmin Guo
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting Dong
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huajuan Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiujuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Quanxin Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqian Zhou
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cuiping Mao
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fedeli D, Ciullo G, Demichelis G, Medina Carrion JP, Bruzzone MG, Ciusani E, Erbetta A, Ferraro S, Grisoli M, Guastafierro E, D'Amico D, Raggi A, Nigri A, Grazzi L. Longitudinal neurofunctional changes in medication overuse headache patients after mindfulness practice in a randomized controlled trial (the MIND-CM study). J Headache Pain 2024; 25:97. [PMID: 38858629 PMCID: PMC11165872 DOI: 10.1186/s10194-024-01803-5] [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: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness practice has gained interest in the management of Chronic Migraine associated with Medication Overuse Headache (CM-MOH). Mindfulness is characterized by present-moment self-awareness and relies on attention control and emotion regulation, improving headache-related pain management. Mindfulness modulates the Default Mode Network (DMN), Salience Network (SN), and Fronto-Parietal Network (FPN) functional connectivity. However, the neural mechanisms underlying headache-related pain management with mindfulness are still unclear. In this study, we tested neurofunctional changes after mindfulness practice added to pharmacological treatment as usual in CM-MOH patients. METHODS The present study is a longitudinal phase-III single-blind Randomized Controlled Trial (MIND-CM study; NCT03671681). Patients had a diagnosis of CM-MOH, no history of neurological and severe psychiatric comorbidities, and were attending our specialty headache centre. Patients were divided in Treatment as Usual (TaU) and mindfulness added to TaU (TaU + MIND) groups. Patients underwent a neuroimaging and clinical assessment before the treatment and after one year. Longitudinal comparisons of DMN, SN, and FPN connectivity were performed between groups and correlated with clinical changes. Vertex-wise analysis was performed to assess cortical thickness changes. RESULTS 177 CM-MOH patients were randomized to either TaU group or TaU + MIND group. Thirty-four patients, divided in 17 TaU and 17 TaU + MIND, completed the neuroimaging follow-up. At the follow-up, both groups showed an improvement in most clinical variables, whereas only TaU + MIND patients showed a significant headache frequency reduction (p = 0.028). After one year, TaU + MIND patients showed greater SN functional connectivity with the left posterior insula (p-FWE = 0.007) and sensorimotor cortex (p-FWE = 0.026). In TaU + MIND patients only, greater SN-insular connectivity was associated with improved depression scores (r = -0.51, p = 0.038). A longitudinal increase in cortical thickness was observed in the insular cluster in these patients (p = 0.015). Increased anterior cingulate cortex thickness was also reported in TaU + MIND group (p-FWE = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Increased SN-insular connectivity might modulate chronic pain perception and the management of negative emotions. Enhanced SN-sensorimotor connectivity could reflect improved body-awareness of painful sensations. Expanded cingulate cortex thickness might sustain improved cognitive processing of nociceptive information. Our findings unveil the therapeutic potential of mindfulness and the underlying neural mechanisms in CM-MOH patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Name of Registry; MIND-CM study; Registration Number ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT0367168; Registration Date: 14/09/2018.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Fedeli
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ciullo
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39, Parma, 43125, Italy
| | - Greta Demichelis
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
| | - Jean Paul Medina Carrion
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Bruzzone
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
| | - Emilio Ciusani
- Department of Diagnostic and Technology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Erbetta
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefania Ferraro
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
- School of Life Science and Technology, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Marina Grisoli
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy
| | - Erika Guastafierro
- Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Domenico D'Amico
- Neuroalgology Unit and Headache Center, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Raggi
- Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| | - Anna Nigri
- Department of Neuroradiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, Milano, Italy.
| | - Licia Grazzi
- Neuroalgology Unit and Headache Center, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Skouras S, Kleinert ML, Lee EHM, Hui CLM, Suen YN, Camchong J, Chong CSY, Chang WC, Chan SKW, Lo WTL, Lim KO, Chen EYH. Aberrant connectivity in the hippocampus, bilateral insula and temporal poles precedes treatment resistance in first-episode psychosis: a prospective resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study with connectivity concordance mapping. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae094. [PMID: 38707706 PMCID: PMC11069118 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae094] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional connectivity resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging has been proposed to predict antipsychotic treatment response in schizophrenia. However, only a few prospective studies have examined baseline resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients with regard to subsequent treatment response. Data-driven approaches to conceptualize and measure functional connectivity patterns vary broadly, and model-free, voxel-wise, whole-brain analysis techniques are scarce. Here, we apply such a method, called connectivity concordance mapping to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from an Asian sample (n = 60) with first-episode psychosis, prior to pharmaceutical treatment. Using a longitudinal design, 12 months after the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured and classified patients into two groups based on psychometric testing: treatment responsive and treatment resistant. Next, we compared the two groups' connectivity concordance maps that were derived from the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data at baseline. We have identified consistently higher functional connectivity in the treatment-resistant group in a network including the left hippocampus, bilateral insula and temporal poles. These data-driven novel findings can help researchers to consider new regions of interest and facilitate biomarker development in order to identify treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients early, in advance of treatment and at the time of their first psychotic episode.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Skouras
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, CH3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Edwin H M Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Christy L M Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yi Nam Suen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jazmin Camchong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | | | - Wing Chung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sherry K W Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - William T L Lo
- Department of Psychiatry, Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Eric Y H Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fauchon C, Bastuji H, Peyron R, Garcia-Larrea L. Fractal Similarity of Pain Brain Networks. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 36:639-657. [PMID: 38468056 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-47606-8_32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The conscious perception of pain is the result of dynamic interactions of neural activities from local brain regions to distributed brain networks. Mapping out the networks of functional connections between brain regions that form and disperse when an experimental participant received nociceptive stimulations allow to characterize the pattern of network connections related to the pain experience.Although the pattern of intra- and inter-areal connections across the brain are incredibly complex, they appear also largely scale free, with "fractal" connectivity properties reproducing at short and long-time scales. Our results combining intracranial recordings and functional imaging in humans during pain indicate striking similarities in the activity and topological representation of networks at different orders of temporality, with reproduction of patterns of activation from the millisecond to the multisecond range. The connectivity analyzed using graph theory on fMRI data was organized in four sets of brain regions matching those identified through iEEG (i.e., sensorimotor, default mode, central executive, and amygdalo-hippocampal).Here, we discuss similarities in brain network organization at different scales or "orders," in participants as they feel pain. Description of this fractal-like organization may provide clues about how our brain regions work together to create the perception of pain and how pain becomes chronic when its organization is altered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Fauchon
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Inserm, Neuro-Dol, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
- Université Jean Monnet, Inserm, CRNL, NeuroPain, Saint-Etienne, France.
| | - Hélène Bastuji
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UJM, Inserm, CRNL, NeuroPain, Bron, France
| | - Roland Peyron
- Université Jean Monnet, Inserm, CRNL, NeuroPain, Saint-Etienne, France
- CHU, centre de la douleur, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Luis Garcia-Larrea
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, UJM, Inserm, CRNL, NeuroPain, Bron, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Asci F, Di Stefano G, Di Santo A, Bianchini E, Leone C, La Cesa S, Zampogna A, Cruccu G, Suppa A. Pain-motor integration in chronic pain: A neurophysiological study. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 154:107-115. [PMID: 37595480 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.07.010] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic pain may lead to functional changes in several brain regions, including the primary motor cortex (M1). Our neurophysiological study aimed to probe M1 plasticity, through a non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol, in a cohort of patients with chronic pain. METHODS Twenty patients with chronic pain (age ± SD: 62.9 ± 9.9) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (age ± SD: 59.6 ± 15.8) were recruited. Standardized scales were used for the evaluation of pain severity. Neurophysiological measures included laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) collected at baseline and over 60 minutes following a standardized Laser-paired associative stimulation (Laser-PAS) protocol. RESULTS LEPs and MEPs were comparable in patients with chronic pain and controls. The pain threshold was lower in patients than in controls. Laser-PAS elicited decreased responses in patients with chronic pain. The response to Laser-PAS was similar in subgroups of patients with different chronic pain phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS M1 plasticity, as tested by Laser-PAS, is altered in patients with chronic pain, possibly reflecting abnormal pain-motor integration processes. SIGNIFICANCE Chronic pain is associated with a disorder of M1 plasticity raising from abnormal pain-motor integration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Asci
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed Institute, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
| | - Giulia Di Stefano
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Di Santo
- Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Álvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Bianchini
- Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sense Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
| | - Caterina Leone
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia La Cesa
- Unit of Neurology, S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Zampogna
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Cruccu
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Antonio Suppa
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell'Università, 30, 00185 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Neuromed Institute, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mishra A, Yang PF, Manuel TJ, Newton AT, Phipps MA, Luo H, Sigona MK, Reed JL, Gore JC, Grissom WA, Caskey CF, Chen LM. Disrupting nociceptive information processing flow through transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation of thalamic nuclei. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1430-1444. [PMID: 37741439 PMCID: PMC10702144 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.09.013] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MRI-guided transcranial focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) as a next-generation neuromodulation tool can precisely target and stimulate deep brain regions with high spatial selectivity. Combined with MR-ARFI (acoustic radiation force imaging) and using fMRI BOLD signal as functional readouts, our previous studies have shown that low-intensity FUS can excite or suppress neural activity in the somatosensory cortex. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether low-intensity FUS can suppress nociceptive heat stimulation-induced responses in thalamic nuclei during hand stimulation, and to determine how this suppression influences the information processing flow within nociception networks. FINDINGS BOLD fMRI activations evoked by 47.5 °C heat stimulation of hand were detected in 24 cortical regions, which belong to sensory, affective, and cognitive nociceptive networks. Concurrent delivery of low-intensity FUS pulses (650 kHz, 550 kPa) to the predefined heat nociceptive stimulus-responsive thalamic centromedial_parafascicular (CM_para), mediodorsal (MD), ventral_lateral (VL_ and ventral_lateral_posteroventral (VLpv) nuclei suppressed their heat responses. Off-target cortical areas exhibited reduced, enhanced, or no significant fMRI signal changes, depending on the specific areas. Differentiable thalamocortical information flow during the processing of nociceptive heat input was observed, as indicated by the time to reach 10% or 30% of the heat-evoked BOLD signal peak. Suppression of thalamic heat responses significantly altered nociceptive processing flow and direction between the thalamus and cortical areas. Modulation of contralateral versus ipsilateral areas by unilateral thalamic activity differed. Signals detected in high-order cortical areas, such as dorsal frontal (DFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal (vlPFC) cortices, exhibited faster response latencies than sensory areas. CONCLUSIONS The concurrent delivery of FUS suppressed nociceptive heat response in thalamic nuclei and disrupted the nociceptive network. This study offers new insights into the causal functional connections within the thalamocortical networks and demonstrates the modulatory effects of low-intensity FUS on nociceptive information processing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arabinda Mishra
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Pai-Feng Yang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Thomas J Manuel
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Allen T Newton
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - M Anthony Phipps
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Huiwen Luo
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michelle K Sigona
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jamie L Reed
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - William A Grissom
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Charles F Caskey
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Li Min Chen
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kim J, Namgung E, Lee S, Ha E, Hong H, Song Y, Lee H, Oh S, Lyoo IK, Yoon S, Jeong H. Disturbed insular functional connectivity and its clinical implication in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 38:103440. [PMID: 37224606 PMCID: PMC10220260 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by continued amplification of pain intensity. Given the pivotal roles of the insula in the perception and interpretation of pain, we examined insular functional connectivity and its associations with clinical characteristics in patients with CRPS. METHODS Twenty-one patients with CRPS and 49 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The seed-to-seed functional connectivity analysis was performed for the bilateral insulae and cognitive control regions including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) between the two groups. Correlations between altered functional connectivity and clinical characteristics were assessed in CRPS patients. RESULTS CRPS patients exhibited lower functional connectivity within the bilateral anterior insulae, between the insular and cognitive control regions (the bilateral anterior/posterior insulae-dACC; the right posterior insula-left DLPFC), as compared with healthy controls at false discovery rate-corrected p < 0.05. In CRPS patients, pain severity was associated negatively with the left-right anterior insular functional connectivity (r = -0.49, p = 0.03), yet positively with the left anterior insula-dACC functional connectivity (r = 0.51, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS CRPS patients showed lower functional connectivity both within the bilateral anterior insulae and between the insular and cognitive control regions. The current findings may suggest pivotal roles of the insula in dysfunctional pain processing of CRPS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinsol Kim
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun Namgung
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Suji Lee
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunji Ha
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Haejin Hong
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yumi Song
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyangwon Lee
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sohyun Oh
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - In Kyoon Lyoo
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sujung Yoon
- Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Hyeonseok Jeong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Legon W, Strohman A, In A, Stebbins K, Payne B. Non-invasive neuromodulation of sub-regions of the human insula differentially affect pain processing and heart-rate variability. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.05.539593. [PMID: 37205396 PMCID: PMC10187309 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.05.539593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The insula is a portion of the cerebral cortex folded deep within the lateral sulcus covered by the overlying opercula of the inferior frontal lobe and superior portion of the temporal lobe. The insula has been parsed into sub-regions based upon cytoarchitectonics and structural and functional connectivity with multiple lines of evidence supporting specific roles for each of these sub-regions in pain processing and interoception. In the past, causal interrogation of the insula was only possible in patients with surgically implanted electrodes. Here, we leverage the high spatial resolution combined with the deep penetration depth of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to non-surgically modulate either the anterior insula (AI) or posterior insula (PI) in humans for effect on subjective pain ratings, electroencephalographic (EEG) contact head evoked potentials (CHEPs) and time-frequency power as well as autonomic measures including heart-rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal response (EDR). N = 23 healthy volunteers received brief noxious heat pain stimuli to the dorsum of their right hand during continuous heart-rate, EDR and EEG recording. LIFU was delivered to either the AI (anterior short gyrus), PI (posterior longus gyrus) or under an inert sham condition time-locked to the heat stimulus. Results demonstrate that single-element 500 kHz LIFU is capable of individually targeting specific gyri of the insula. LIFU to both AI and PI similarly reduced perceived pain ratings but had differential effects on EEG activity. LIFU to PI affected earlier EEG amplitudes around 300 milliseconds whereas LIFU to AI affected EEG amplitudes around 500 milliseconds. In addition, only LIFU to the AI affected HRV as indexed by an increase in standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN) and mean HRV low frequency power. There was no effect of LIFU to either AI or PI on EDR or blood pressure. Taken together, LIFU looks to be an effective method to individually target sub-regions of the insula in humans for site-specific effects on brain biomarkers of pain processing and autonomic reactivity that translates to reduced perceived pain to a transient heat stimulus. These data have implications for the treatment of chronic pain and several neuropsychological diseases like anxiety, depression and addiction that all demonstrate abnormal activity in the insula concomitant with dysregulated autonomic function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wynn Legon
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
- Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Andrew Strohman
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Alexander In
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Katelyn Stebbins
- Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| | - Brighton Payne
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
- Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gélébart J, Garcia-Larrea L, Frot M. Amygdala and anterior insula control the passage from nociception to pain. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:3538-3547. [PMID: 35965070 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of the spinothalamic system does not always result in a subjective pain perception. While the cerebral network processing nociception is relatively well known, the one underlying its transition to conscious pain remains poorly described. We used intracranial electroencephalography in epileptic patients to investigate whether the amplitudes and functional connectivity of posterior and anterior insulae (PI and AI) and amygdala differ according to the subjective reports to laser stimuli delivered at a constant intensity set at nociceptive threshold. Despite the constant intensity of stimuli, all patients reported variable subjective perceptions from one stimulus to the other. Responses in the sensory PI remained stable throughout the experiment, hence reflecting accurately the stability of the stimulus. In contrast, both AI and amygdala responses showed significant enhancements associated with painful relative to nonpainful reports, in a time window corresponding to the conscious integration of the stimulus. Functional connectivity in the gamma band between these two regions increased significantly, both before and after stimuli perceived as painful. While the PI appears to transmit faithfully the actual stimulus intensity received via the spinothalamic tract, the AI and the amygdala appear to play a major role in the transformation of nociceptive signals into a painful perception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Gélébart
- Central Integration of Pain (Neuropain Lab) - Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Université Claude Bernard, 69677 Bron cedex, France
| | - Luis Garcia-Larrea
- Central Integration of Pain (Neuropain Lab) - Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Université Claude Bernard, 69677 Bron cedex, France
- Centre d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69677 Bron cedex, France
| | - Maud Frot
- Central Integration of Pain (Neuropain Lab) - Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Université Claude Bernard, 69677 Bron cedex, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Labrakakis C. The Role of the Insular Cortex in Pain. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065736. [PMID: 36982807 PMCID: PMC10056254 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The transition from normal to chronic pain is believed to involve alterations in several brain areas that participate in the perception of pain. These plastic changes are then responsible for aberrant pain perception and comorbidities. The insular cortex is consistently found activated in pain studies of normal and chronic pain patients. Functional changes in the insula contribute to chronic pain; however, the complex mechanisms by which the insula is involved in pain perception under normal and pathological conditions are still not clear. In this review, an overview of the insular function is provided and findings on its role in pain from human studies are summarized. Recent progress on the role of the insula in pain from preclinical experimental models is reviewed, and the connectivity of the insula with other brain regions is examined to shed new light on the neuronal mechanisms of the insular cortex’s contribution to normal and pathological pain sensation. This review underlines the need for further studies on the mechanisms underlying the involvement of the insula in the chronicity of pain and the expression of comorbid disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Labrakakis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
- Institute of Biosciences, University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chen ZS. Hierarchical predictive coding in distributed pain circuits. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1073537. [PMID: 36937818 PMCID: PMC10020379 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1073537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Predictive coding is a computational theory on describing how the brain perceives and acts, which has been widely adopted in sensory processing and motor control. Nociceptive and pain processing involves a large and distributed network of circuits. However, it is still unknown whether this distributed network is completely decentralized or requires networkwide coordination. Multiple lines of evidence from human and animal studies have suggested that the cingulate cortex and insula cortex (cingulate-insula network) are two major hubs in mediating information from sensory afferents and spinothalamic inputs, whereas subregions of cingulate and insula cortices have distinct projections and functional roles. In this mini-review, we propose an updated hierarchical predictive coding framework for pain perception and discuss its related computational, algorithmic, and implementation issues. We suggest active inference as a generalized predictive coding algorithm, and hierarchically organized traveling waves of independent neural oscillations as a plausible brain mechanism to integrate bottom-up and top-down information across distributed pain circuits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Sage Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY, United States
- Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Zhe Sage Chen
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ferraro S, Klugah-Brown B, Tench CR, Bazinet V, Bore MC, Nigri A, Demichelis G, Bruzzone MG, Palermo S, Zhao W, Yao S, Jiang X, Kendrick KM, Becker B. The central autonomic system revisited – Convergent evidence for a regulatory role of the insular and midcingulate cortex from neuroimaging meta-analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104915. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
15
|
Chae Y, Park HJ, Lee IS. Pain modalities in the body and brain: Current knowledge and future perspectives. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 139:104744. [PMID: 35716877 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104744] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Development and validation of pain biomarkers has become a major issue in pain research. Recent advances in multimodal data acquisition have allowed researchers to gather multivariate and multilevel whole-body measurements in patients with pain conditions, and data analysis techniques such as machine learning have led to novel findings in neural biomarkers for pain. Most studies have focused on the development of a biomarker to predict the severity of pain with high precision and high specificity, however, a similar approach to discriminate different modalities of pain is lacking. Identification of more accurate and specific pain biomarkers will require an in-depth understanding of the modality specificity of pain. In this review, we summarize early and recent findings on the modality specificity of pain in the brain, with a focus on distinct neural activity patterns between chronic clinical and acute experimental pain, direct, social, and vicarious pain, and somatic and visceral pain. We also suggest future directions to improve our current strategy of pain management using our knowledge of modality-specific aspects of pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Younbyoung Chae
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, the Republic of Korea; Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hi-Joon Park
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, the Republic of Korea; Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, the Republic of Korea
| | - In-Seon Lee
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, the Republic of Korea; Acupuncture & Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, the Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Horing B, Büchel C. The human insula processes both modality-independent and pain-selective learning signals. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001540. [PMID: 35522696 PMCID: PMC9116652 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Prediction errors (PEs) are generated when there are differences between an expected and an actual event or sensory input. The insula is a key brain region involved in pain processing, and studies have shown that the insula encodes the magnitude of an unexpected outcome (unsigned PEs). In addition to signaling this general magnitude information, PEs can give specific information on the direction of this deviation-i.e., whether an event is better or worse than expected. It is unclear whether the unsigned PE responses in the insula are selective for pain or reflective of a more general processing of aversive events irrespective of modality. It is also unknown whether the insula can process signed PEs at all. Understanding these specific mechanisms has implications for understanding how pain is processed in the brain in both health and in chronic pain conditions. In this study, 47 participants learned associations between 2 conditioned stimuli (CS) with 4 unconditioned stimuli (US; painful heat or loud sound, of one low and one high intensity each) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and skin conductance response (SCR) measurements. We demonstrate that activation in the anterior insula correlated with unsigned intensity PEs, irrespective of modality, indicating an unspecific aversive surprise signal. Conversely, signed intensity PE signals were modality specific, with signed PEs following pain but not sound located in the dorsal posterior insula, an area implicated in pain intensity processing. Previous studies have identified abnormal insula function and abnormal learning as potential causes of pain chronification. Our findings link these results and suggest that a misrepresentation of learning relevant PEs in the insular cortex may serve as an underlying factor in chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Björn Horing
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Dissecting neuropathic from poststroke pain: the white matter within. Pain 2022; 163:765-778. [PMID: 35302975 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Poststroke pain (PSP) is a heterogeneous term encompassing both central neuropathic (ie, central poststroke pain [CPSP]) and nonneuropathic poststroke pain (CNNP) syndromes. Central poststroke pain is classically related to damage in the lateral brainstem, posterior thalamus, and parietoinsular areas, whereas the role of white matter connecting these structures is frequently ignored. In addition, the relationship between stroke topography and CNNP is not completely understood. In this study, we address these issues comparing stroke location in a CPSP group of 35 patients with 2 control groups: 27 patients with CNNP and 27 patients with stroke without pain. Brain MRI images were analyzed by 2 complementary approaches: an exploratory analysis using voxel-wise lesion symptom mapping, to detect significant voxels damaged in CPSP across the whole brain, and a hypothesis-driven, region of interest-based analysis, to replicate previously reported sites involved in CPSP. Odds ratio maps were also calculated to demonstrate the risk for CPSP in each damaged voxel. Our exploratory analysis showed that, besides known thalamic and parietoinsular areas, significant voxels carrying a high risk for CPSP were located in the white matter encompassing thalamoinsular connections (one-tailed threshold Z > 3.96, corrected P value <0.05, odds ratio = 39.7). These results show that the interruption of thalamocortical white matter connections is an important component of CPSP, which is in contrast with findings from nonneuropathic PSP and from strokes without pain. These data can aid in the selection of patients at risk to develop CPSP who could be candidates to pre-emptive or therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
|
18
|
Late responses in the anterior insula reflect the cognitive component of pain: evidence of nonpain processing. Pain Rep 2022; 7:e984. [PMID: 35187379 PMCID: PMC8812601 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Distinguishing sensory and cognitive aspects of pain-related insular activity and the temporal profile of anterior insula activity suggested a key role of cognitive modulation. Introduction: Pain is a complex experience influenced by sensory and psychological factors. The insula is considered to be a core part of the pain network in the brain. Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the posterior insula (PI) and sensory processing, and between the anterior insula (AI) and cognitive–affective factors. Objectives: Our aim was to distinguish sensory and cognitive responses in pain-related insular activities. Methods: We recorded spatiotemporal insular activation patterns of healthy participants (n = 20) during pain or tactile processing with painful or nonpainful movie stimuli, using a magnetoencephalography. We compared the peak latency between PI and AI activities in each stimulus condition, and between pain and tactile processing in each response. The peak latency and amplitude between different movies were then examined to explore the effects of cognitive influence. A visual analogue scale was used to assess subjective perception. Results: The results revealed one clear PI activity and 2 AI activities (early and late) in insular responses induced by pain/tactile stimulation. The early response transmitted from the PI to AI was observed during sensory-associated brain activity, whereas the late AI response was observed during cognitive-associated activity. In addition, we found that painful movie stimuli had a significant influence on both late AI activity and subjective perception, caused by nonpainful actual stimulation. Conclusions: The current findings suggested that late AI activation reflects the processing of cognitive pain information, whereas the PI and early AI responses reflect sensory processing.
Collapse
|
19
|
Frot M, Mauguière F, Garcia-Larrea L. Insular Dichotomy in the Implicit Detection of Emotions in Human Faces. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4215-4228. [PMID: 35029677 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional roles of the insula diverge between its posterior portion (PI), mainly connected with somato-sensory and motor areas, and its anterior section (AI) connected with the frontal, limbic, and cingulate regions. We report intracranial recordings of local field evoked potentials from PI, AI, and the visual fusiform gyrus to a full array of emotional faces including pain while the individuals' attention was diverted from emotions. The fusiform gyrus and PI responded equally to all types of faces, including neutrals. Conversely, the AI responded only to emotional faces, maximally to pain and fear, while remaining insensitive to neutrals. The two insular sectors reacted with almost identical latency suggesting their parallel initial activation via distinct functional routes. The consistent responses to all emotions, together with the absence of response to neutral faces, suggest that early responses in the AI reflect the immediate arousal value and behavioral relevance of emotional stimuli, which may be subserved by "fast track" routes conveying coarse-spatial-frequency information via the superior colliculus and dorsal pulvinar. Such responses precede the conscious detection of the stimulus' precise signification and valence, which need network interaction and information exchange with other brain areas, for which the AI is an essentialhub.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maud Frot
- Central Integration of Pain (NeuroPain) Lab-Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Université Claude Bernard, Bron 69677, France
| | - François Mauguière
- Central Integration of Pain (NeuroPain) Lab-Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Université Claude Bernard, Bron 69677, France
| | - Luis Garcia-Larrea
- Central Integration of Pain (NeuroPain) Lab-Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, INSERM U1028, CNRS, UMR5292, Université Claude Bernard, Bron 69677, France
- Centre d'Evaluation et de Traitement de la Douleur, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69003, France
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Inter-individual differences in pain anticipation and pain perception in migraine: Neural correlates of migraine frequency and cortisol-to-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) ratio. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261570. [PMID: 34929017 PMCID: PMC8687546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies targeting inter-individual differences in pain processing in migraine mainly focused on the perception of pain. Our main aim was to disentangle pain anticipation and perception using a classical fear conditioning task, and investigate how migraine frequency and pre-scan cortisol-to-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) ratio as an index of neurobiological stress response would relate to neural activation in these two phases. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data of 23 participants (18 females; mean age: 27.61± 5.36) with episodic migraine without aura were analysed. We found that migraine frequency was significantly associated with pain anticipation in brain regions comprising the midcingulate and caudate, whereas pre-scan cortisol-to DHEA-S ratio was related to pain perception in the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA). Both results suggest exaggerated preparatory responses to pain or more general to stressors, which may contribute to the allostatic load caused by stressors and migraine attacks on the brain.
Collapse
|
21
|
Asymmetric Lateralization during Pain Processing. Symmetry (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/sym13122416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage”. This complex perception arises from the coordinated activity of several brain areas processing either sensory–discriminative or affective–motivational components. Functional studies performed in healthy volunteers revealed that affective–emotional components of pain are processed bilaterally but present a clear lateralization towards the right hemisphere, regardless of the site of stimulation. Studies at the cellular level performed in experimental animal models of pain have shown that neuronal activity in the right amygdala is clearly pronociceptive, whilst activation of neurons in the left amygdala might even exert antinociceptive effects. A shift in lateralization becomes evident during the development of chronic pain; thus, in patients with neuropathic pain symptoms, there is increased activity in ipsilateral brain areas related with pain. These observations extend the asymmetrical left–right lateralization within the nervous system and provide a new hypothesis for the pathophysiology of chronic forms of pain. In this article, we will review experimental data from preclinical and human studies on functional lateralization in the brain during pain processing, which will help to explain the affective disorders associated with persistent, chronic pain.
Collapse
|
22
|
Resting-state functional heterogeneity of the right insula contributes to pain sensitivity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22945. [PMID: 34824347 PMCID: PMC8617295 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02474-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have described the structure and function of the insular cortex in terms of spatially continuous gradients. Here we assess how spatial features of insular resting state functional organization correspond to individual pain sensitivity. From a previous multicenter study, we included 107 healthy participants, who underwent resting state functional MRI scans, T1-weighted scans and quantitative sensory testing on the left forearm. Thermal and mechanical pain thresholds were determined. Connectopic mapping, a technique using non-linear representations of functional organization was employed to describe functional connectivity gradients in both insulae. Partial coefficients of determination were calculated between trend surface model parameters summarizing spatial features of gradients, modal and modality-independent pain sensitivity. The dominant connectopy captured the previously reported posteroanterior shift in connectivity profiles. Spatial features of dominant connectopies in the right insula explained significant amounts of variance in thermal (R2 = 0.076; p < 0.001 and R2 = 0.031; p < 0.029) and composite pain sensitivity (R2 = 0.072; p < 0.002). The left insular gradient was not significantly associated with pain thresholds. Our results highlight the functional relevance of gradient-like insular organization in pain processing. Considering individual variations in insular connectopy might contribute to understanding neural mechanisms behind pain and improve objective brain-based characterization of individual pain sensitivity.
Collapse
|
23
|
Ferraro S, Klugah-Brown B, Tench CR, Yao S, Nigri A, Demichelis G, Pinardi C, Bruzzone MG, Becker B. Dysregulated anterior insula reactivity as robust functional biomarker for chronic pain-Meta-analytic evidence from neuroimaging studies. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 43:998-1010. [PMID: 34734458 PMCID: PMC8764475 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurobiological pain models propose that chronic pain is accompanied by neurofunctional changes that mediate pain processing dysfunctions. In contrast, meta‐analyses of neuroimaging studies in chronic pain conditions have not revealed convergent evidence for robust alterations during experimental pain induction. Against this background, the present neuroimaging meta‐analysis combined three different meta‐analytic approaches with stringent study selection criteria for case–control functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments during acute pain processing with a focus on chronic pain disorders. Convergent neurofunctional dysregulations in chronic pain patients were observed in the left anterior insula cortex. Seed‐based resting‐state functional connectivity based on a large publicly available dataset combined with a meta‐analytic task‐based approach identified the anterior insular region as a key node of an extended bilateral insula‐fronto‐cingular network, resembling the salience network. Moreover, the meta‐analytic decoding showed that this region presents a high probability to be specifically activated during pain‐related processes, although we cannot exclude an involvement in autonomic processes. Together, the present findings indicate that dysregulated left anterior insular activity represents a robust neurofunctional maladaptation and potential treatment target in chronic pain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Ferraro
- The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.,Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Benjamin Klugah-Brown
- The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Christopher R Tench
- Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
| | - Shuxia Yao
- The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Anna Nigri
- Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Greta Demichelis
- Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Pinardi
- Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Bruzzone
- Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, School of Life Science and Technology, MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Paredes O, López JB, Covantes-Osuna C, Ocegueda-Hernández V, Romo-Vázquez R, Morales JA. A Transcriptome Community-and-Module Approach of the Human Mesoconnectome. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 23:1031. [PMID: 34441171 PMCID: PMC8393183 DOI: 10.3390/e23081031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Graph analysis allows exploring transcriptome compartments such as communities and modules for brain mesostructures. In this work, we proposed a bottom-up model of a gene regulatory network to brain-wise connectome workflow. We estimated the gene communities across all brain regions from the Allen Brain Atlas transcriptome database. We selected the communities method to yield the highest number of functional mesostructures in the network hierarchy organization, which allowed us to identify specific brain cell functions (e.g., neuroplasticity, axonogenesis and dendritogenesis communities). With these communities, we built brain-wise region modules that represent the connectome. Our findings match with previously described anatomical and functional brain circuits, such the default mode network and the default visual network, supporting the notion that the brain dynamics that carry out low- and higher-order functions originate from the modular composition of a GRN complex network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rebeca Romo-Vázquez
- Computer Sciences Department, Exact Sciences and Engineering University Centre, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Mexico; (O.P.); (J.B.L.); (C.C.-O.); (V.O.-H.)
| | - J. Alejandro Morales
- Computer Sciences Department, Exact Sciences and Engineering University Centre, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44430, Mexico; (O.P.); (J.B.L.); (C.C.-O.); (V.O.-H.)
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linette Liqi Tan
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Rohini Kuner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Bergeron D, Obaid S, Fournier-Gosselin MP, Bouthillier A, Nguyen DK. Deep Brain Stimulation of the Posterior Insula in Chronic Pain: A Theoretical Framework. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050639. [PMID: 34063367 PMCID: PMC8156413 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To date, clinical trials of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for refractory chronic pain have yielded unsatisfying results. Recent evidence suggests that the posterior insula may represent a promising DBS target for this indication. METHODS We present a narrative review highlighting the theoretical basis of posterior insula DBS in patients with chronic pain. RESULTS Neuroanatomical studies identified the posterior insula as an important cortical relay center for pain and interoception. Intracranial neuronal recordings showed that the earliest response to painful laser stimulation occurs in the posterior insula. The posterior insula is one of the only regions in the brain whose low-frequency electrical stimulation can elicit painful sensations. Most chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, had abnormal functional connectivity of the posterior insula on functional imaging. Finally, preliminary results indicated that high-frequency electrical stimulation of the posterior insula can acutely increase pain thresholds. CONCLUSION In light of the converging evidence from neuroanatomical, brain lesion, neuroimaging, and intracranial recording and stimulation as well as non-invasive stimulation studies, it appears that the insula is a critical hub for central integration and processing of painful stimuli, whose high-frequency electrical stimulation has the potential to relieve patients from the sensory and affective burden of chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Bergeron
- Service de Neurochirurgie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1L5, Canada; (S.O.); (M.-P.F.-G.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Sami Obaid
- Service de Neurochirurgie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1L5, Canada; (S.O.); (M.-P.F.-G.); (A.B.)
| | | | - Alain Bouthillier
- Service de Neurochirurgie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1L5, Canada; (S.O.); (M.-P.F.-G.); (A.B.)
| | - Dang Khoa Nguyen
- Service de Neurologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1L5, Canada;
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Fauchon C, Meunier D, Faillenot I, Pomares FB, Bastuji H, Garcia-Larrea L, Peyron R. The Modular Organization of Pain Brain Networks: An fMRI Graph Analysis Informed by Intracranial EEG. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa088. [PMID: 34296144 PMCID: PMC8152828 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracranial EEG (iEEG) studies have suggested that the conscious perception of pain builds up from successive contributions of brain networks in less than 1 s. However, the functional organization of cortico-subcortical connections at the multisecond time scale, and its accordance with iEEG models, remains unknown. Here, we used graph theory with modular analysis of fMRI data from 60 healthy participants experiencing noxious heat stimuli, of whom 36 also received audio stimulation. Brain connectivity during pain was organized in four modules matching those identified through iEEG, namely: 1) sensorimotor (SM), 2) medial fronto-cingulo-parietal (default mode-like), 3) posterior parietal-latero-frontal (central executive-like), and 4) amygdalo-hippocampal (limbic). Intrinsic overlaps existed between the pain and audio conditions in high-order areas, but also pain-specific higher small-worldness and connectivity within the sensorimotor module. Neocortical modules were interrelated via “connector hubs” in dorsolateral frontal, posterior parietal, and anterior insular cortices, the antero-insular connector being most predominant during pain. These findings provide a mechanistic picture of the brain networks architecture and support fractal-like similarities between the micro-and macrotemporal dynamics associated with pain. The anterior insula appears to play an essential role in information integration, possibly by determining priorities for the processing of information and subsequent entrance into other points of the brain connectome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Fauchon
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,University Jean Monnet, Saint-Étienne 42100, France
| | - David Meunier
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INT (Institute of Neuroscience de la Timone), Marseille 13005 France
| | - Isabelle Faillenot
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,University Jean Monnet, Saint-Étienne 42100, France
| | - Florence B Pomares
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3W 1W6, Canada
| | - Hélène Bastuji
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne 69100, France.,Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 69002, France
| | - Luis Garcia-Larrea
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne 69100, France
| | - Roland Peyron
- Central Integration of Pain in Humans (NeuroPain-lab), Inserm U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Bron 69500, France.,University Jean Monnet, Saint-Étienne 42100, France.,Service de Neurologie et Centre de la Douleur du CHU de St-Etienne, St-Etienne 42055, France
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Tsagareli N, Tsiklauri N, Kvachadze I, Tsagareli MG. Endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems contribute to antinociception produced by administration of NSAIDs into the insular cortex of rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 131:110722. [PMID: 32916536 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain sensation is characterized as a complex experience, dependent on sensory processes as well as the activation of limbic brain areas involved in emotion, among them anterior insula. This cortical area is involved in the perception and response to painful stimuli. We investigated if this area contributes to antinociception produced by NSAIDs, and underlying mechanisms. We found that administration of NSAIDs into the anterior insular cortex in rats reduced mechanical and heat hyperalgesia produced by intraplantar injection of formalin, and this was attenuated by pre- or post-treatment with the opioid receptor antagonists, naloxone and CTOP, and the cannabinoid receptor (CB1) antagonist AM-251. These data support the concept that NSAID-evoked antinociception is mediated via descending endogenous opioid and cannabinoid systems inhibiting spinal paw withdrawal reflexes in rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natia Tsagareli
- Department of Pain and Analgesia, Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia; Department of Physiology, Tbilisi State Medial University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Nana Tsiklauri
- Department of Pain and Analgesia, Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Irine Kvachadze
- Department of Physiology, Tbilisi State Medial University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Merab G Tsagareli
- Department of Pain and Analgesia, Beritashvili Center for Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi, Georgia; Department of Physiology, Tbilisi State Medial University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Reduced excitatory neurotransmitter levels in anterior insulae are associated with abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome. Pain 2020; 160:2004-2012. [PMID: 31045748 PMCID: PMC6727903 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a visceral pain condition with psychological comorbidity. Brain imaging studies in IBS demonstrate altered function in anterior insula (aINS), a key hub for integration of interoceptive, affective, and cognitive processes. However, alterations in aINS excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission as putative biochemical underpinnings of these functional changes remain elusive. Using quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we compared women with IBS and healthy women (healthy controls [HC]) with respect to aINS glutamate + glutamine (Glx) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA+) concentrations and addressed possible associations with symptoms. Thirty-nine women with IBS and 21 HC underwent quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy of bilateral aINS to assess Glx and GABA+ concentrations. Questionnaire data from all participants and prospective symptom-diary data from patients were obtained for regression analyses of neurotransmitter concentrations with IBS-related and psychological parameters. Concentrations of Glx were lower in IBS compared with HC (left aINS P < 0.05, right aINS P < 0.001), whereas no group differences were detected for GABA+ concentrations. Lower right-lateralized Glx concentrations in patients were substantially predicted by longer pain duration, while less frequent use of adaptive pain-coping predicted lower Glx in left aINS. Our findings provide first evidence for reduced excitatory but unaltered inhibitory neurotransmitter levels in aINS in IBS. The results also indicate a functional lateralization of aINS with a stronger involvement of the right hemisphere in perception of abdominal pain and of the left aINS in cognitive pain regulation. Our findings suggest that glutaminergic deficiency may play a role in pain processing in IBS.
Collapse
|
30
|
Moss RA. Psychotherapy in pain management: New viewpoints and treatment targets based on a brain theory. AIMS Neurosci 2020; 7:194-207. [PMID: 32995484 PMCID: PMC7519970 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2020013] [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: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The current paper provides an explanation of neurophysiological pain processing based the Dimensional Systems Model (DSM), a theory of higher cortical functions in which the cortical column is considered the binary digit for all cortical functions. Within the discussion, novel views on the roles of the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and cingulate cortex are presented. Additionally, an applied Clinical Biopsychological Model (CBM) based on the DSM will be discussed as related to psychological treatment with chronic pain patients. Three specific areas that have not been adequately addressed in the psychological treatment of chronic pain patients will be discussed based on the CBM. The treatment approaches have been effectively used in a clinical setting. Conclusions focus on a call for researchers and clinicians to fully evaluate the value of both the DSM and CBM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Moss
- North Mississippi Regional Pain Consultants, 4381 Eason Blvd., Tupelo, MS 38801 USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
The Reorganization of Insular Subregions in Individuals with Below-Level Neuropathic Pain following Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:2796571. [PMID: 32211038 PMCID: PMC7085828 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2796571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the reorganization of insular subregions in individuals suffering from neuropathic pain (NP) after incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI) and further to disclose the underlying mechanism of NP. Method The 3D high-resolution T1-weighted structural images and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) of all individuals were obtained using a 3.0 Tesla MRI system. A comparative analysis of structure and function connectivity (FC) with insular subareas as seeds in 10 ISCI individuals with below-level NP (ISCI-P), 11 ISCI individuals without NP (ISCI-N), and 25 healthy controls (HCs) was conducted. Associations between the structural and functional alteration of insula subregions and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were analyzed using the Pearson correlation in SPSS 20. Results Compared with ISCI-N patients, when the left posterior insula as the seed, ISCI-P showed increased FC in right cerebellum VIIb and cerebellum VIII, Brodmann 37 (BA 37). When the left ventral anterior insula as the seed, ISCI-P indicated enhanced FC in right BA18 compared with ISCI-N patients. These increased FCs positively correlated with VAS scores. Relative to HCs, ISCI-P presented increased FC in the left hippocampus when the left dorsal anterior insula was determined as the seed. There was no statistical difference in the volume of insula subregions among the three groups. Conclusion Our study indicated that distinctive patterns of FC in each subregion of insula suggest that the insular subareas participate in the NP processing through different FC following ISCI. Further, insula subregions could serve as a therapeutic target for NP following ISCI.
Collapse
|
32
|
Niddam DM, Lee SH, Su YT, Chan RC. Altered cortical morphology in patients with chronic shoulder pain. Neurosci Lett 2019; 712:134515. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
33
|
Horing B, Sprenger C, Büchel C. The parietal operculum preferentially encodes heat pain and not salience. PLoS Biol 2019; 17:e3000205. [PMID: 31404058 PMCID: PMC6705876 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Substantial controversy exists as to which part of brain activity is genuinely attributable to pain-related percepts and which activity is due to general aspects of sensory stimulation, such as its salience, or the accompanying arousal. The challenge posed by this question rests largely in the fact that pain per se exhibits highly intense but unspecific characteristics. These therefore should be matched by potential control conditions. Here, we used a unique combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral and autonomic measures to address this longstanding debate in pain research. Subjects rated perceived intensity in a sequence alternating between heat and sound stimuli. Neuronal activity was monitored using fMRI. Either modality was presented in 6 different intensities, 3 of which lay above the pain threshold (for heat) or the unpleasantness threshold (for sound). We performed our analysis on 26 volunteers in which psychophysiological responses (as per skin conductance responses [SCRs]) did not differ between the 2 stimulus modalities. Having thus ascertained a comparable amount of stimulation-related but unspecific activation, we analyzed stimulus-response functions (SRFs) after painful stimulation and contrasted them with those of the matched acoustic control condition. Furthermore, analysis of fMRI data was performed on the brain surface to circumvent blurring issues stemming from the close proximity of several regions of interest located in heavily folded cortical areas. We focused our analyses on insular and peri-insular regions that are strongly involved in processing of painful stimuli. We employed an axiomatic approach to determine areas showing higher activation in painful compared to nonpainful heat and, at the same time, showing a steeper SRF for painful heat compared to unpleasant sound. Intriguingly, an area in the posterior parietal operculum emerged, whose response showed a pain preference after satisfying all axiomatic constraints. This result has important implications for the interpretation of functional imaging findings in pain research, because it clearly demonstrates that there are areas where activity following painful stimulation is not due to general attributes or results of sensory stimulation, such as salience or arousal. Conversely, several areas did not conform to the formulated axioms to rule out general factors as explanations. The brain activity detected during pain could be due merely to the fact that pain is arousing and attention-grabbing, rather than being directly attributable to the pain itself. This study identifies an area of the brain — the parietal operculum — whose activity can only be explained by the painfulness of pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Björn Horing
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Christian Sprenger
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Riello M, Cecchini MP, Zanini A, Di Chiappari M, Tinazzi M, Fiorio M. Perception of phasic pain is modulated by smell and taste. Eur J Pain 2019; 23:1790-1800. [PMID: 31291496 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain perception is a multimodal experience composed of sensory, emotional and cognitive dimensions. Accumulating evidence suggests that the chemical senses can influence pain perception, but their relation with phasic pain is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of smell and taste having different valence on phasic pain. METHODS Twenty-eight healthy volunteers received sweet, bitter and neutral odours or gustatory substances while receiving painful stimuli consisting of electrical shocks. Tactile threshold, pain threshold and pain tolerance were collected using the psychophysical method of limits at baseline and in association with smell and taste. Perception of pain intensity and unpleasantness was measured with a numerical rating scale. RESULTS Sweet smell induced lower ratings of pain intensity than bitter smell when stimuli were delivered at pain threshold. Sweet smell also induced lower ratings of pain unpleasantness than neutral smell when stimuli were delivered at pain tolerance. Sweet taste induced lower ratings of pain unpleasantness than bitter taste when stimuli were delivered at pain threshold. Conversely, pain threshold and pain tolerance per se were not affected by smell and taste. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight an effect of sweet substances in reducing the subjective perception of pain intensity and unpleasantness associated to phasic pain. SIGNIFICANCE By demonstrating the link between smell, taste and phasic pain this study may have a translational impact in clinical conditions characterized by so-called shock-like pain, such as neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Riello
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Cecchini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alice Zanini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Miguel Di Chiappari
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Tinazzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Mirta Fiorio
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Brain activity sustaining the modulation of pain by empathetic comments. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8398. [PMID: 31182760 PMCID: PMC6558033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44879-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathetic verbal feedback from others has been shown to alleviate the intensity of experimental pain. To investigate the brain changes associated with this effect, we conducted 3T-fMRI measurements in 30 healthy subjects who received painful thermal stimuli on their left hand while overhearing empathetic, neutral or unempathetic comments, supposedly made by experimenters, via headsets. Only the empathetic comments significantly reduced pain intensity ratings. A whole-brain BOLD analysis revealed that both Empathetic and Unempathetic conditions significantly increased the activation of the right anterior insular and posterior parietal cortices to pain stimuli, while activations in the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus (PCC/Prec) were significantly stronger during Empathetic compared to Unempathetic condition. BOLD activity increased in the DLPFC in the Empathetic condition and decreased in the PCC/Prec and vmPFC in the Unempathetic condition. In the Empathetic condition only, functional connectivity increased significantly between the vmPFC and the insular cortex. These results suggest that modulation of pain perception by empathetic feedback involves a set of high-order brain regions associated with autobiographical memories and self-awareness, and relies on interactions between such supra-modal structures and key nodes of the pain system.
Collapse
|