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Experimental Brain Research

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01-07-2019 | Evoked Potential | Research Article

Divergent effects of conditioned pain modulation on subjective pain and nociceptive-related brain activity

Authors: Sergiu Albu, Mary W. Meagher

Published in: Experimental Brain Research | Issue 7/2019

Abstract

Background and objectives

Pain is a complex experience involving both nociceptive and affective–cognitive mechanisms. The present study evaluated whether modulation of pain perception, employing a conditioned pain modulation (CPM) paradigm, is paralleled by changes in contact heat-evoked potentials (CHEPs), a brain response to nociceptive stimuli.

Methods

Participants were 25 healthy, pain-free, college students (12 males, 13 females, mean age 19.24 ± 0.97 years). Twenty computer-controlled heat stimuli were delivered to the non-dominant forearm and CHEPs were recorded at Cz using a 32-channel EEG system. After each stimulus, participants rated the intensity of the heat pain using the 0–100 numerical rating scale. The latency and amplitude of N2, P2 components as well as single-sweep spectral analysis of individual CHEPs were measured offline. For CPM, participants had to submerge their dominant foot into a neutral (32 °C) or noxious (0 °C) water bath. CHEPs and heat pain ratings were recorded in 3 different conditions: without CPM, after neutral CPM (32 °C) and after noxious CPM (0 °C).

Results

The noxious CPM induced a facilitatory pain response (p = 0.001) with an increase in heat pain following noxious CPM compared to neutral CPM (p = 0.001) and no CPM (p = 0.001). Changes in CHEPs did not differ between conditions when measured as N2–P2 peak-to-peak amplitude (p = 0.33) but the CPM significantly suppressed the CHEPs-related delta power (p = 0.03). Changes in heat pain in the noxious CPM were predicted by trait catastrophizing variables (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The current study revealed that pain facilitatory CPM is related to suppression of CHEPs delta power which could be related to dissociation between brain responses to noxious heat and pain perception.

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Title: Divergent effects of conditioned pain modulation on subjective pain and nociceptive-related brain activity
Authors: Sergiu Albu
Mary W. Meagher
Publication date: 01-07-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Evoked Potential
Evoked Potential
Published in: Experimental Brain Research / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 0014-4819
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1106
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-019-05545-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Divergent effects of conditioned pain modulation on subjective pain and nociceptive-related brain activity

Abstract

Background and objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background and objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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