Brain Activation During Accommodation to Painful Stimulation With FMRI
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Chronic Pain |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Musculoskeletal |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 50 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | November 2010 |
| End Date: | October 2016 |
Brain Activation During Accommodation to Painful Stimulation With Functional Imaging of Pain
Blood oxygen level dependant (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI)
investigations of pain have provided substantial insight into the workings of the human
brain. To date, however, the vast majority of studies have dealt with short painful
stimulations. This work will expand the investigators knowledge of how longer stimulations
are processed by comparing the activation pattern from a two minute painful stimulation with
that of an 30-second painful stimulus. The investigators hypothesis that accommodation to
the longer stimulation will be evident by either decreases in signal intensity in brain
areas known to process pain, or by increasing activity in brain areas thought to be
responsible for the modulation of painful perception.
investigations of pain have provided substantial insight into the workings of the human
brain. To date, however, the vast majority of studies have dealt with short painful
stimulations. This work will expand the investigators knowledge of how longer stimulations
are processed by comparing the activation pattern from a two minute painful stimulation with
that of an 30-second painful stimulus. The investigators hypothesis that accommodation to
the longer stimulation will be evident by either decreases in signal intensity in brain
areas known to process pain, or by increasing activity in brain areas thought to be
responsible for the modulation of painful perception.
Background: Over the past 14 years, BOLD FMRI studies have non-invasively shown that pain
activates a matrix of areas, but that this activation decays during stimulation, possibly
reflecting the body's ability to "accommodate" to the stimulation. The majority of these use
short applications of pain lasting 1 to 30 seconds. However, investigators are now using
stimulations much longer than the periods that were typical a few years ago. The effect of
signal decay on the activation maps generated by these longer tasks is not known. Because
the signal change in many of the subcortical areas involved in pain processing is low,
errors in analysis due to neglecting the signal decay may induce significant artifact.
Materials and Methods: Using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, 20 healthy
volunteers will experience two different painful stimulations: a repeating 30-second long
stimulation and a constant 2 minute stimulation. The brain activity for each will be
determined and compared. In addition, the signal decay during each painful stimulation will
be quantified and compared.
Significance: Investigators are using longer stimulations periods in an attempt to
understand how the brain processes "real- life" pain instead of the artificial on-off
pattern of earlier studies. However, significant attention has not been paid to the possible
effect of accommodation on the stimulus and how this may impact the activity pattern found.
In addition, proof of activation of pain-control areas like the periaquaductal gray while
inverse changes are occurring in pain-perceiving areas has not been sought. This study will
address both of these issues with a single BOLD FMRI experiment.
activates a matrix of areas, but that this activation decays during stimulation, possibly
reflecting the body's ability to "accommodate" to the stimulation. The majority of these use
short applications of pain lasting 1 to 30 seconds. However, investigators are now using
stimulations much longer than the periods that were typical a few years ago. The effect of
signal decay on the activation maps generated by these longer tasks is not known. Because
the signal change in many of the subcortical areas involved in pain processing is low,
errors in analysis due to neglecting the signal decay may induce significant artifact.
Materials and Methods: Using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, 20 healthy
volunteers will experience two different painful stimulations: a repeating 30-second long
stimulation and a constant 2 minute stimulation. The brain activity for each will be
determined and compared. In addition, the signal decay during each painful stimulation will
be quantified and compared.
Significance: Investigators are using longer stimulations periods in an attempt to
understand how the brain processes "real- life" pain instead of the artificial on-off
pattern of earlier studies. However, significant attention has not been paid to the possible
effect of accommodation on the stimulus and how this may impact the activity pattern found.
In addition, proof of activation of pain-control areas like the periaquaductal gray while
inverse changes are occurring in pain-perceiving areas has not been sought. This study will
address both of these issues with a single BOLD FMRI experiment.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 to 50
- Right-handed
- Male or female
- Healthy individuals not taking any medication.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy
- Diagnosed with any treated or untreated medical or neurological conditions
- Using any prescription drugs, including antidepressants, pain medications, sedative
medications, blood pressure medications, seizure medications, or antipsychotics. Oral
contraceptives are permitted
- Using any over-the-counter medications including aspirin, Tylenol, or herbal
supplements
- Using any illicit substances
- Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging.
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