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Brain activation induced by dentine hypersensitivity pain--an fMRI study
Michael L Meier1, Michael Brügger, Dominik A Ettlin
1Institute of Psychology, Department of Neuropsychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. michael.meier@uzh.ch
Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|March 16, 2012
Summary
This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe brain activity during dentine hypersensitivity (DH) pain. Specific brain regions, including the anterior insula and midcingulate cortex, showed differential activity, suggesting their role in DH pain perception.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Dental Research
Background:
- Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) causes sharp pain from exposed dentin.
- Previous research focused on peripheral neural aspects of DH pain.
- Cerebral activity underlying DH pain is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differential cerebral activity in response to natural air stimuli on sensitive and insensitive teeth.
- To explore the neural correlates of dentine hypersensitivity using fMRI.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to analyze brain activity.
- Five graded air jet stimuli were applied to teeth.
- Participants rated perceived stimulus intensity.
Main Results:
- Stimulation of sensitive teeth activated the thalamus, somatosensory cortices, insular cortices, and cingulate cortex.
- Differential brain activation was observed in the anterior insula and anterior midcingulate cortex between DH and painless stimuli.
- Specific frontal regions (BA10, BA46) also showed activation.
Conclusions:
- This fMRI study demonstrates the feasibility of investigating DH using natural air stimuli.
- Differential activity in the anterior insula (aIC) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) may be clinically relevant for DH pain.
- Neuroimaging provides insights into the central processing of DH pain.
