A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study
Abstract Limitations in chronic pain therapies necessitate novel interventions that are effective, accessible, and safe. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) provide a promising modality for targeting neuropathology underlying chronic pain by converting recorded neural activity into perceivable outputs....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53261-3 |
| _version_ | 1797275233977106432 |
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| author | Phillip Demarest Nabi Rustamov James Swift Tao Xie Markus Adamek Hohyun Cho Elizabeth Wilson Zhuangyu Han Alexander Belsten Nicholas Luczak Peter Brunner Simon Haroutounian Eric C. Leuthardt |
| author_facet | Phillip Demarest Nabi Rustamov James Swift Tao Xie Markus Adamek Hohyun Cho Elizabeth Wilson Zhuangyu Han Alexander Belsten Nicholas Luczak Peter Brunner Simon Haroutounian Eric C. Leuthardt |
| author_sort | Phillip Demarest |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Limitations in chronic pain therapies necessitate novel interventions that are effective, accessible, and safe. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) provide a promising modality for targeting neuropathology underlying chronic pain by converting recorded neural activity into perceivable outputs. Recent evidence suggests that increased frontal theta power (4–7 Hz) reflects pain relief from chronic and acute pain. Further studies have suggested that vibrotactile stimulation decreases pain intensity in experimental and clinical models. This longitudinal, non-randomized, open-label pilot study's objective was to reinforce frontal theta activity in six patients with chronic upper extremity pain using a novel vibrotactile neurofeedback BCI system. Patients increased their BCI performance, reflecting thought-driven control of neurofeedback, and showed a significant decrease in pain severity (1.29 ± 0.25 MAD, p = 0.03, q = 0.05) and pain interference (1.79 ± 1.10 MAD p = 0.03, q = 0.05) scores without any adverse events. Pain relief significantly correlated with frontal theta modulation. These findings highlight the potential of BCI-mediated cortico-sensory coupling of frontal theta with vibrotactile stimulation for alleviating chronic pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:11:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c11b90090c1044cb91ca6e66b7f03233 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:11:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-c11b90090c1044cb91ca6e66b7f032332024-03-05T18:40:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111710.1038/s41598-024-53261-3A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot studyPhillip Demarest0Nabi Rustamov1James Swift2Tao Xie3Markus Adamek4Hohyun Cho5Elizabeth Wilson6Zhuangyu Han7Alexander Belsten8Nicholas Luczak9Peter Brunner10Simon Haroutounian11Eric C. Leuthardt12Division of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Clinical and Translational Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Clinical and Translational Research, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineDivision of Neurotechnology, Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineAbstract Limitations in chronic pain therapies necessitate novel interventions that are effective, accessible, and safe. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) provide a promising modality for targeting neuropathology underlying chronic pain by converting recorded neural activity into perceivable outputs. Recent evidence suggests that increased frontal theta power (4–7 Hz) reflects pain relief from chronic and acute pain. Further studies have suggested that vibrotactile stimulation decreases pain intensity in experimental and clinical models. This longitudinal, non-randomized, open-label pilot study's objective was to reinforce frontal theta activity in six patients with chronic upper extremity pain using a novel vibrotactile neurofeedback BCI system. Patients increased their BCI performance, reflecting thought-driven control of neurofeedback, and showed a significant decrease in pain severity (1.29 ± 0.25 MAD, p = 0.03, q = 0.05) and pain interference (1.79 ± 1.10 MAD p = 0.03, q = 0.05) scores without any adverse events. Pain relief significantly correlated with frontal theta modulation. These findings highlight the potential of BCI-mediated cortico-sensory coupling of frontal theta with vibrotactile stimulation for alleviating chronic pain.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53261-3 |
| spellingShingle | Phillip Demarest Nabi Rustamov James Swift Tao Xie Markus Adamek Hohyun Cho Elizabeth Wilson Zhuangyu Han Alexander Belsten Nicholas Luczak Peter Brunner Simon Haroutounian Eric C. Leuthardt A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study Scientific Reports |
| title | A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study |
| title_full | A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study |
| title_short | A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study |
| title_sort | novel theta controlled vibrotactile brain computer interface to treat chronic pain a pilot study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53261-3 |
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