Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...

Nociception

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Effectiveness and safety of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences·2026

Same author

Pediatric Residents' Intubation Competency Through Simulation-Based Training: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Kansas journal of medicine·2026

Same author

Individual cases of Parkinson's disease can be robustly classified using magnetoencephalography.

NPJ Parkinson's disease·2026

Same author

Electrophysiological biomarkers of concussion in adolescents measured using magnetoencephalography.

Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology·2026

Same author

Long-Term Associations of Subconcussive Blast Exposure With Brain Function and Structure.

The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation·2026

Same author

Alpha Oscillations and Conditioned Pain Modulation Is Associated With Treatment Resistance to Spinal Cord Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain.

European journal of pain (London, England)·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Psychophysically-anchored, Robust Thresholding in Studying Pain-related Lateralization of Oscillatory Prestimulus Activity

Psychophysically-anchored, Robust Thresholding in Studying Pain-related Lateralization of Oscillatory Prestimulus Activity

Published on: January 21, 2017

Individual differences in conditioned pain modulation are associated with alpha oscillations.

Rima El-Sayed^1,2, Vaidhehi Veena Sanmugananthan^1,2, Joshua C Cheng^1,2

¹Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

|September 2, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Alpha oscillations in the brain influence how pain changes based on location. This study reveals a link between alpha brain waves and pain modulation, suggesting new therapeutic targets for pain management.

Keywords:

Alpha oscillations Conditioned pain modulation Magnetoencephalography Sex differences dlpfc sgACC

More Related Videos

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Published on: February 16, 2017

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior

Published on: June 10, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Psychophysically-anchored, Robust Thresholding in Studying Pain-related Lateralization of Oscillatory Prestimulus Activity

Psychophysically-anchored, Robust Thresholding in Studying Pain-related Lateralization of Oscillatory Prestimulus Activity

Published on: January 21, 2017

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Published on: February 16, 2017

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior

Use of the Operant Orofacial Pain Assessment Device OPAD to Measure Changes in Nociceptive Behavior

Published on: June 10, 2013

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Pain Research
Neuroimaging

Background:

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) exhibits significant inter-individual variability, manifesting as inhibition, facilitation, or absence of modulation.
Alpha oscillations are implicated in pain processing, yet their precise role in CPM remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between alpha oscillation characteristics (peak alpha frequency and power) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) within the dynamic pain connectome (DPC).
To explore how these relationships differ across various CPM paradigms and between sexes.

Main Methods:

Resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) was employed in 68 healthy individuals to assess brain activity.
A heat-based CPM paradigm was used to evaluate pain modulation, with subsequent analysis of alpha power and peak alpha frequency in specific brain regions.
A pressure-based CPM paradigm was also utilized in a subset of participants.

Main Results:

A significant portion of individuals displayed facilitatory CPM (49%), contrasting with inhibitory (32%) and no CPM (19%).
Lower alpha power in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and across the DPC was observed in the facilitatory subgroup.
Peak alpha frequency in the thalamus correlated with inhibitory CPM, while sex-specific relationships were noted in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC).

Conclusions:

The influence of alpha oscillations on CPM is dependent on the experimental paradigm and sex.
A discernible alpha-CPM relationship exists in healthy individuals, particularly involving prefrontal regions and the sgACC.
These findings offer insights into potential neuromodulation strategies for pain management.