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Gustin SM, Bolding M, Willoughby W, Anam M, Shum C, Rumble D, Mark VW, Mitchell L, Cowan RE, Richardson E, Richards S, Trost Z. Cortical Mechanisms Underlying Immersive Interactive Virtual Walking Treatment for Amelioration of Neuropathic Pain after Spinal Cord Injury: Findings from a Preliminary Investigation of Thalamic Inhibitory Function. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5743. [PMID: 37685810 PMCID: PMC10488675 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) affects approximately 60% of individuals with SCI. Effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments remain elusive. We recently demonstrated that our immersive virtual reality walking intervention (VRWalk) may be effective for SCI NP. Additionally, we found that SCI NP may result from a decrease in thalamic γ-aminobutyric-acid (GABA), which disturbs central sensorimotor processing. OBJECTIVE While we identified GABAergic changes associated with SCI NP, a critical outstanding question is whether a decrease in SCI NP generated by our VRWalk intervention causes GABA content to rise. METHOD A subset of participants (n = 7) of our VRWalk trial underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy pre- and post-VRWalk intervention to determine if the decrease in SCI NP is associated with an increase in thalamic GABA. RESULTS The findings revealed a significant increase in thalamic GABA content from pre- to post-VRWalk treatment. CONCLUSION While the current findings are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution, pre- to post-VRWalk reductions in SCI NP may be mediated by pre- to post-treatment increases in thalamic GABA by targeting and normalizing maladaptive sensorimotor cortex reorganization. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of pain recovery can serve to validate the efficacy of home-based VR walking treatment as a means of managing pain following SCI. Neuromodulatory interventions aimed at increasing thalamic inhibitory function may provide more effective pain relief than currently available treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia M. Gustin
- NeuroRecovery Research Hub, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney 2031, Australia
| | - Mark Bolding
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - William Willoughby
- Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Monima Anam
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA (L.M.)
| | - Corey Shum
- Immersive Experience Laboratories LLC, Birmingham, AL 35203, USA
| | - Deanna Rumble
- Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR 72035, USA
| | - Victor W. Mark
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Lucie Mitchell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA (L.M.)
| | - Rachel E. Cowan
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Elizabeth Richardson
- Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, AL 35115, USA
| | - Scott Richards
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Zina Trost
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Dans PW, Foglia SD, Nelson AJ. Data Processing in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Motor Control Research. Brain Sci 2021; 11:606. [PMID: 34065136 PMCID: PMC8151801 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
FNIRS pre-processing and processing methodologies are very important-how a researcher chooses to process their data can change the outcome of an experiment. The purpose of this review is to provide a guide on fNIRS pre-processing and processing techniques pertinent to the field of human motor control research. One hundred and twenty-three articles were selected from the motor control field and were examined on the basis of their fNIRS pre-processing and processing methodologies. Information was gathered about the most frequently used techniques in the field, which included frequency cutoff filters, wavelet filters, smoothing filters, and the general linear model (GLM). We discuss the methodologies of and considerations for these frequently used techniques, as well as those for some alternative techniques. Additionally, general considerations for processing are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W. Dans
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
| | - Stevie D. Foglia
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
| | - Aimee J. Nelson
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
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Wriessnegger SC, Bauernfeind G, Kurz EM, Raggam P, Müller-Putz GR. Imagine squeezing a cactus: Cortical activation during affective motor imagery measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Brain Cogn 2018; 126:13-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Stojanovic-Radic J, Wylie G, Voelbel G, Chiaravalloti N, DeLuca J. Neuroimaging and cognition using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in multiple sclerosis. Brain Imaging Behav 2016; 9:302-11. [PMID: 24916919 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-014-9307-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The present study utilized functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detect neural activation differences in the orbitofrontal brain region between individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls (HCs) during a working memory (WM) task. Thirteen individuals with MS and 12 HCs underwent fNIRS recording while performing the n-back WM task with four levels of difficulty (0-, 1-, 2-, and 3-back). Subjects were fitted with the fNIRS cap consisting of 30 'optodes' positioned over the forehead. The results revealed different patterns of brain activation in MS and HCs. The MS group showed an increase in brain activation, as measured by the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb), in the left superior frontal gyrus (LSFG) at lower task difficulty levels (i.e. 1-back), followed by a decrease at higher task difficulty (2- and 3-back) as compared with the HC group. HC group achieved higher accuracy than the MS group on the lower task loads (i.e. 0- and 1-back), however there were no performance differences between the groups at the higher task loads (i.e. 2- and 3-back). Taken together, the results suggest that individuals with MS experience a task with the lower cognitive load as more difficult than the HC group, and the brain activation patterns observed during the task confirm some of the previous findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. This study is the first to investigate brain activation by utilizing the method of fNIRS in MS during the performance of a cognitive task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Stojanovic-Radic
- Kessler Foundation, Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, 300 Executive Drive, Suite 70, West Orange, NJ, 07052, USA
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A New Approach for Automatic Removal of Movement Artifacts in Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Time Series by Means of Acceleration Data. ALGORITHMS 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/a8041052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Villiger M, Bohli D, Kiper D, Pyk P, Spillmann J, Meilick B, Curt A, Hepp-Reymond MC, Hotz-Boendermaker S, Eng K. Virtual reality-augmented neurorehabilitation improves motor function and reduces neuropathic pain in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2013; 27:675-83. [PMID: 23757298 DOI: 10.1177/1545968313490999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurorehabilitation interventions to improve lower limb function and neuropathic pain have had limited success in people with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that intense virtual reality (VR)-augmented training of observed and executed leg movements would improve limb function and neuropathic pain. METHODS Patients used a VR system with a first-person view of virtual lower limbs, controlled via movement sensors fitted to the patient's own shoes. Four tasks were used to deliver intensive training of individual muscles (tibialis anterior, quadriceps, leg ad-/abductors). The tasks engaged motivation through feedback of task success. Fourteen chronic iSCI patients were treated over 4 weeks in 16 to 20 sessions of 45 minutes. Outcome measures were 10 Meter Walking Test, Berg Balance Scale, Lower Extremity Motor Score, Spinal Cord Independence Measure, Locomotion and Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS), obtained at the start and at 4 to 6 weeks before intervention. RESULTS In addition to positive changes reported by the patients (Patients' Global Impression of Change), measures of walking capacity, balance, and strength revealed improvements in lower limb function. Intensity and unpleasantness of neuropathic pain in half of the affected participants were reduced on the NPS test. Overall findings remained stable 12 to 16 weeks after termination of the training. CONCLUSIONS In a pretest/posttest, uncontrolled design, VR-augmented training was associated with improvements in motor function and neuropathic pain in persons with chronic iSCI, several of which reached the level of a minimal clinically important change. A controlled trial is needed to compare this intervention to active training alone or in combination.
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Scholkmann F, Gerber U, Wolf M, Wolf U. End-tidal CO2: an important parameter for a correct interpretation in functional brain studies using speech tasks. Neuroimage 2012; 66:71-9. [PMID: 23099101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2012] [Revised: 09/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to investigate the effect of different speech tasks, i.e. recitation of prose (PR), alliteration (AR) and hexameter (HR) verses and a control task (mental arithmetic (MA) with voicing of the result on end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2), cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation. CO2 levels in the blood are known to strongly affect cerebral blood flow. Speech changes breathing pattern and may affect CO2 levels. Measurements were performed on 24 healthy adult volunteers during the performance of the 4 tasks. Tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) and absolute concentrations of oxyhemoglobin ([O2Hb]), deoxyhemoglobin ([HHb]) and total hemoglobin ([tHb]) were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and PETCO2 by a gas analyzer. Statistical analysis was applied to the difference between baseline before the task, 2 recitation and 5 baseline periods after the task. The 2 brain hemispheres and 4 tasks were tested separately. A significant decrease in PETCO2 was found during all 4 tasks with the smallest decrease during the MA task. During the recitation tasks (PR, AR and HR) a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease occurred for StO2 during PR and AR in the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) and during AR and HR in the left PFC. [O2Hb] decreased significantly during PR, AR and HR in both hemispheres. [HHb] increased significantly during the AR task in the right PFC. [tHb] decreased significantly during HR in the right PFC and during PR, AR and HR in the left PFC. During the MA task, StO2 increased and [HHb] decreased significantly during the MA task. We conclude that changes in breathing (hyperventilation) during the tasks led to lower CO2 pressure in the blood (hypocapnia), predominantly responsible for the measured changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that PETCO2 should be monitored during functional brain studies investigating speech using neuroimaging modalities, such as fNIRS, fMRI to ensure a correct interpretation of changes in hemodynamics and oxygenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Scholkmann
- Institute of Complementary Medicine KIKOM, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland; Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Gerber
- Institute of Complementary Medicine KIKOM, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - M Wolf
- Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Wolf
- Institute of Complementary Medicine KIKOM, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
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Dommer L, Jäger N, Scholkmann F, Wolf M, Holper L. Between-brain coherence during joint n-back task performance: a two-person functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Behav Brain Res 2012; 234:212-22. [PMID: 22750679 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to step into two-person neuroscience by investigating the hemodynamic correlates of between-brain connectivity during joint task performance. To test this approach, wireless functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to record brain signals during performance of a dual n-back task simultaneously in paired players as compared to single players. Evaluating functional connectivity between the paired players' brains using wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis revealed (1) a significant increase in between-brain coherence during joint task performance as compared to baseline condition. These patterns were observed in two frequency bands, i.e. in the heart rate (HR) frequency and in low-frequency oscillations (LFOs). (2) Averaged hemodynamic responses revealed larger responses in total hemoglobin concentration changes [tHb] for the paired players as compared to the single players; in addition, within the paired players groups joint task performance revealed larger changes in [tHb] as compared to a rest period and to a baseline condition. (3) No increase in behavioral performance was found in the paired players as compared to the single players. Our findings designate fNIRS as suitable tool for monitoring interpersonal performances between two subjects. The results show that two-person performance leads to relevant and significant effects, which are detectable using between-brain connectivity analysis. Using this approach can provide additional insight into interpersonal activation patterns not detectable using typical one-person experiments. Our study demonstrates the potential of simultaneously assessing cerebral hemodynamic responses for various two-person experimental paradigms and research areas where interpersonal performances are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Dommer
- Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
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