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Brain Functional Changes before, during, and after Clinical Pain
X Hu1,2, A J Racek1, E Bellile1,3
11 Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort, Biologic & Materials Sciences Department, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Journal of Dental Research
|January 12, 2018
Summary
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) reveals brain activity patterns predicting dental pain. Baseline connectivity and hemodynamic responses in S1 and PFC influence pain perception and alter brain connectivity post-pain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Pain Research
Background:
- Dental hypersensitivity involves complex pain experiences.
- Understanding brain mechanisms during clinical pain is crucial.
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging tool for brain imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional brain activation and connectivity modulating pain in a clinical dental setting.
- To link hemodynamic responses and functional connectivity with clinical pain experience.
- To explore brain changes before, during, and after pain induction.
Main Methods:
- Used fNIRS to record hemodynamic responses at somatosensory cortices (S1) and prefrontal cortices (PFCs).
- Recruited 12 patients with dentin hypersensitivity undergoing cold stimulation.
- Applied partial least squares path modeling to analyze pain experience, hemodynamic responses, and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC).
Main Results:
- Hemodynamic responses in PFC/S1 were sequentially linked to expectation, cold detection, and pain perception.
- Pain ratings were moderately associated with functional activation sequences and baseline PFC-S1 RSFC.
- Post-pain, PFC connectivity increased with contralateral S1 and decreased with ipsilateral S1 regions.
Conclusions:
- Clinical dental pain experience can be predicted by baseline S1-PFC functional connectivity and ongoing hemodynamic responses.
- Brain connectivity shows immediate after-effects post-pain, even after pain cessation.
- Findings enhance understanding of affective and sensory experience impacts on the brain during and after clinical pain.
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