Resting-State Electroencephalography Networks Underlying Individual Differences in the Effects of Virtual Reality...

Deafferentation pain refers to pain that can arise from a mismatch between motor intention and sensory feedback owing to the interruption of sensory input caused by nervous system damage. Visual feedback interventions using virtual reality (VR) have been implemented as a treatment approach to promote sensorimotor congruence. However, the degree of pain relief achieved with VR interventions varies considerably across individuals, and the neural mechanisms underlying this variability remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between resting-state brain networks and individual differences in the effects of a VR visual feedback intervention on deafferentation pain.

We examined 10 patients with deafferentation pain. They underwent a VR intervention designed to relieve pain. Resting-state electroencephalography was recorded, and pain intensity was assessed before and after the intervention. In addition, we compared resting-state networks between the patients and 23 healthy adults.

Our results demonstrated interindividual variability in pain relief that was significantly correlated with the beta band network properties, particularly small-worldness and the average clustering coefficient among nodes within the frontal region. Patients showed significantly higher small‑worldness than healthy adults, along with a significantly higher average clustering coefficient across nodes within the frontal region compared with other regions. These nodes exhibited significantly stronger functional connectivity with the frontoparietal region compared with healthy adults.

These findings suggest that small-worldness or frontoparietal connectivity may be involved in the sensitivity to sensorimotor congruence in visual feedback interventions, thereby contributing to individual differences in pain reduction.