Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain
Abstract. Introduction:. Objective disease markers are a key for diagnosis and personalized interventions. In chronic pain, such markers are still not available, and therapy relies on individual patients' reports. However, several pain studies have reported group-based differences in functional...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer
2021-07-01
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| Series: | PAIN Reports |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/10.1097/PR9.0000000000000928 |
| _version_ | 1819004438405185536 |
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| author | Bart Witjes Sylvain Baillet Mathieu Roy Robert Oostenveld Frank J.P.M. Huygen Cecile C. de Vos |
| author_facet | Bart Witjes Sylvain Baillet Mathieu Roy Robert Oostenveld Frank J.P.M. Huygen Cecile C. de Vos |
| author_sort | Bart Witjes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract. Introduction:. Objective disease markers are a key for diagnosis and personalized interventions. In chronic pain, such markers are still not available, and therapy relies on individual patients' reports. However, several pain studies have reported group-based differences in functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography (MEG).
Objectives:. We aimed to explore spectral differences in resting-state MEG brain signals between patients with chronic pain and pain-free controls and to characterize the cortical and subcortical regions involved.
Methods:. We estimated power spectral density over 5 minutes of resting-state MEG recordings in patients with chronic pain and controls and derived 7 spectral features at the sensor and source levels: alpha peak frequency, alpha power ratio (power 7–9 Hz divided by power 9–11 Hz), and average power in theta, alpha, beta, low-gamma, and high-gamma bands. We performed nonparametric permutation t tests (false discovery rate corrected) to assess between-group differences in these 7 spectral features.
Results:. Twenty-one patients with chronic pain and 25 controls were included. No significant group differences were found in alpha peak frequency or average power in any frequency band. The alpha power ratio was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients with chronic pain at both the sensor and brain source levels. The brain regions showing significantly higher ratios included the occipital, parietal, temporal and frontal lobe areas, insular and cingulate cortex, and right thalamus.
Conclusion:. The alpha power ratio is a simple, promising signal marker of chronic pain, affecting an expansive range of cortical and subcortical regions, including known pain-processing areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:36:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-860548088cb6462599652373913d8b0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2471-2531 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T23:36:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PAIN Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-860548088cb6462599652373913d8b0c2022-12-21T19:23:11ZengWolters KluwerPAIN Reports2471-25312021-07-0162e92810.1097/PR9.0000000000000928202107000-00002Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic painBart Witjes0Sylvain Baillet1Mathieu Roy2Robert Oostenveld3Frank J.P.M. Huygen4Cecile C. de Vos5a Center for Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlandsb McConnell Brain imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canadac Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canadad Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlandsa Center for Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlandsa Center for Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the NetherlandsAbstract. Introduction:. Objective disease markers are a key for diagnosis and personalized interventions. In chronic pain, such markers are still not available, and therapy relies on individual patients' reports. However, several pain studies have reported group-based differences in functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and magnetoencephalography (MEG). Objectives:. We aimed to explore spectral differences in resting-state MEG brain signals between patients with chronic pain and pain-free controls and to characterize the cortical and subcortical regions involved. Methods:. We estimated power spectral density over 5 minutes of resting-state MEG recordings in patients with chronic pain and controls and derived 7 spectral features at the sensor and source levels: alpha peak frequency, alpha power ratio (power 7–9 Hz divided by power 9–11 Hz), and average power in theta, alpha, beta, low-gamma, and high-gamma bands. We performed nonparametric permutation t tests (false discovery rate corrected) to assess between-group differences in these 7 spectral features. Results:. Twenty-one patients with chronic pain and 25 controls were included. No significant group differences were found in alpha peak frequency or average power in any frequency band. The alpha power ratio was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients with chronic pain at both the sensor and brain source levels. The brain regions showing significantly higher ratios included the occipital, parietal, temporal and frontal lobe areas, insular and cingulate cortex, and right thalamus. Conclusion:. The alpha power ratio is a simple, promising signal marker of chronic pain, affecting an expansive range of cortical and subcortical regions, including known pain-processing areas.http://journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/10.1097/PR9.0000000000000928 |
| spellingShingle | Bart Witjes Sylvain Baillet Mathieu Roy Robert Oostenveld Frank J.P.M. Huygen Cecile C. de Vos Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain PAIN Reports |
| title | Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain |
| title_full | Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain |
| title_fullStr | Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain |
| title_short | Magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow-to-fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain |
| title_sort | magnetoencephalography reveals increased slow to fast alpha power ratios in patients with chronic pain |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/10.1097/PR9.0000000000000928 |
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