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. 2015 Jan 15:239:108-13.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.10.010. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

The frequency and reliability of cortical activity using a novel strategy to present pressure pain stimulus over the lumbar spine

Charles W Gay  1 , Mark O Papuga  2 , Mark D Bishop  3 , Paul Dougherty  4
Affiliations

The frequency and reliability of cortical activity using a novel strategy to present pressure pain stimulus over the lumbar spine

Charles W Gay et al. J Neurosci Methods. .

Abstract

Background: The blocked stimulus presentation strategy, in fMRI study designs, is an important means to study brain function related to a particular stimulus. Specifically, applying pressure stimuli perceived as painful to different anatomical regions has been used to improve our understanding of central sensitization, which is an important clinical phenomenon in chronic pain.

New method: This paper introduces a novel MR-compatible device used to apply pressure pain stimuli to the lumbar spine of 13 subjects in the supine position. We present the frequency of individuals and within-subject reliability of cortical activity in the following brain regions: the primary somatosensory cortex, insula and anterior cingulate cortex bilaterally.

Results: Using the novel MR-compatible device, a high frequency of individuals showed cortical activity within the a priori brain regions. There was good to excellent run-to-run reliability for peak voxel, while cluster size was less reliable. We found a higher than expected association between stimulus presentation and movement artifacts.

Comparison with existing method(s): Unlike previous methods, the current strategy can apply pressure stimuli to subjects over the lumbar spine while they lay supine. Previous methods required subjects to lay prone.

Conclusions: This strategy could be used for evaluating pressure stimuli related central sensitization associated with back pain.

Keywords: Back pain; Pain processing; Pressure pain; Reliability; fMRI.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. MR-Compatible Pressure Algometer
Figure 2
Figure 2
Three fMRI runs were collected. The paradigm for each run included five 25-second blocks of “moderate” pressure pain stimuli with a 25-second inter-stimulus interval. The amount of pressure used for each participant was individually tailored based on the multiple-random-staircase procedure conducted prior to scanning.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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