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Published on: April 9, 2019
Noninvasive cortical modulation of experimental pain
Veit Mylius1, Jeffrey J Borckardt, Jean-Pascal Lefaucheur
1Université Paris Est Créteil, Faculté de Médecine, EA 4391, Excitabilité Nerveuse et Thérapeutique, Créteil, France Department of Neurology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany Brain Stimulation Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Service de Physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, Créteil, France.
Noninvasive cortical stimulation (NICS) effectively reduces experimental pain. Its analgesic effects depend on stimulation parameters and pain provocation methods, offering insights into cortical pain processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Noninvasive cortical stimulation (NICS), including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), demonstrates analgesic properties.
- These effects are observed in both chronic and acute pain conditions.
- Understanding NICS-induced changes in experimental pain perception is crucial for elucidating cortical mechanisms in pain integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on the modulation of experimental pain perception by cortical stimulation.
- To explore the influence of pain provocation methods and stimulation parameters on NICS efficacy.
- To discuss the potential translation of findings from experimental pain to chronic pain conditions and therapy optimization.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing studies on noninvasive cortical stimulation for pain modulation.
- Analysis of data concerning different pain provocation methods (nerve fibers, neural circuits).
- Evaluation of cortical stimulation parameters, including target areas (motor cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex).
Main Results:
- NICS analgesic effects are contingent upon the pain induction method and stimulation parameters.
- The motor cortex is a primary target for pain modulation via NICS.
- Other cortical regions, like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, show potential for modulating diverse pain components.
Conclusions:
- NICS shows promise for pain management, with efficacy influenced by specific parameters and targets.
- Further advancements, such as image-guided navigated brain stimulation, may enhance NICS benefits.
- Translating experimental pain findings to chronic pain treatment requires careful consideration of NICS parameters and targets.
