Emanuel N van den Broeke1, Bart de Vries2, Julien Lambert2, Diana M Torta3, André Mouraux2. 1. Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Emanuel.vandenbroeke@uclouvain.be. 2. Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. 3. Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Health Psychology Group, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Pinprick-evoked brain potentials (PEPs) have been proposed as a technique to investigate secondary hyperalgesia and central sensitization in humans. However, the signal-to-noise (SNR) of PEPs is low. Here, using time-frequency analysis, we characterize the phase-locked and non-phase-locked EEG responses to pinprick stimulation, before and after secondary hyperalgesia. METHODS: Secondary hyperalgesia was induced using high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of the left/right forearm skin in 16 volunteers. EEG responses to 64 and 96mN pinprick stimuli were elicited from both arms, before and 20min after HFS. RESULTS: Pinprick stimulation applied to normal skin elicited a phase-locked low-frequency (<5Hz) response followed by a reduction of alpha-band oscillations (7-10Hz). The low-frequency response was significantly increased when pinprick stimuli were delivered to the area of secondary hyperalgesia. There was no change in the reduction of alpha-band oscillations. Whereas the low-frequency response was enhanced for both 64 and 96mN intensities, PEPs analyzed in the time domain were only significantly enhanced for the 64mN intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Time-frequency analysis may be more sensitive than conventional time-domain analysis in revealing EEG changes associated to secondary hyperalgesia. SIGNIFICANCE: Time-frequency analysis of PEPs can be used to investigate central sensitization in humans.
OBJECTIVE:Pinprick-evoked brain potentials (PEPs) have been proposed as a technique to investigate secondary hyperalgesia and central sensitization in humans. However, the signal-to-noise (SNR) of PEPs is low. Here, using time-frequency analysis, we characterize the phase-locked and non-phase-locked EEG responses to pinprick stimulation, before and after secondary hyperalgesia. METHODS: Secondary hyperalgesia was induced using high-frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of the left/right forearm skin in 16 volunteers. EEG responses to 64 and 96mN pinprick stimuli were elicited from both arms, before and 20min after HFS. RESULTS:Pinprick stimulation applied to normal skin elicited a phase-locked low-frequency (<5Hz) response followed by a reduction of alpha-band oscillations (7-10Hz). The low-frequency response was significantly increased when pinprick stimuli were delivered to the area of secondary hyperalgesia. There was no change in the reduction of alpha-band oscillations. Whereas the low-frequency response was enhanced for both 64 and 96mN intensities, PEPs analyzed in the time domain were only significantly enhanced for the 64mN intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Time-frequency analysis may be more sensitive than conventional time-domain analysis in revealing EEG changes associated to secondary hyperalgesia. SIGNIFICANCE: Time-frequency analysis of PEPs can be used to investigate central sensitization in humans.
Authors: Gillian J Bedwell; Caron Louw; Romy Parker; Emanuel van den Broeke; Johan W Vlaeyen; G Lorimer Moseley; Victoria J Madden Journal: PeerJ Date: 2022-06-20 Impact factor: 3.061
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Authors: A Di Lionardo; G Di Stefano; C Leone; G Di Pietro; E Sgro; E Malara; C Cosentino; C Mollica; A J Blockeel; O Caspani; L Garcia-Larrea; A Mouraux; R D Treede; K G Phillips; M Valeriani; Andrea Truini Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-10-21 Impact factor: 4.379