Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Pain. 2021 Mar 1;162(3):846-855. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002074.
The primary somatosensory cortex (SI) is a critical part of the neural substrate underlying interindividual differences in pain sensitivity. Here, we investigated whether resting-state functional connectivity, gray matter density (GMD), and GABA and Glx (glutamate and glutamine) levels of the sensorimotor cortices were related to pain thresholds and whether such imaging measures could predict high and low pain sensitivity. Functional, structural, and spectroscopic magnetic resonance data were obtained from 48 healthy participants together with pain thresholds of the right index finger. Left and right sensorimotor networks (SMN) were extracted by means of independent component analysis, and GMD was measured within the combined SMN by means of voxel-based morphometry. Spectroscopic data were acquired from the bilateral sensorimotor cortices. Within the left SMN, functional connectivity to the right SI correlated positively with pain thresholds. In addition, GMD in the left SI and the GABA laterality index correlated positively with pain thresholds. A positive correlation was also found between the GABA laterality index and the left SMN connectivity to the right SI. Finally, the above mentioned functional connectivity and GMD measures could correctly predict high and low pain sensitivity in 83.7% of the study population. In summary, we showed that interindividual differences in pain sensitivity were related to the resting-state functional connectivity, interhemispheric GABA tone, and GMD of the sensorimotor cortices. Furthermore, high and low pain sensitivity could be predicted with high accuracy using imaging measures from the primary sensorimotor cortices.
初级躯体感觉皮层(SI)是个体间疼痛敏感性差异的神经基础的关键组成部分。在这里,我们研究了静息状态功能连接、感觉运动皮层的灰质密度(GMD)、γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)和谷氨酸盐/谷氨酰胺(Glx)水平是否与疼痛阈值有关,以及这些影像学测量是否可以预测高和低疼痛敏感性。从 48 名健康参与者中获得了功能、结构和光谱磁共振数据,以及右手食指的疼痛阈值。通过独立成分分析提取左、右感觉运动网络(SMN),并通过基于体素的形态测量法在联合 SMN 内测量 GMD。从双侧感觉运动皮层采集光谱数据。在左侧 SMN 中,与右侧 SI 的功能连接与疼痛阈值呈正相关。此外,左侧 SI 的 GMD 和 GABA 侧化指数与疼痛阈值呈正相关。GABA 侧化指数与左侧 SMN 与右侧 SI 的连接之间也存在正相关。最后,上述功能连接和 GMD 测量可以正确预测研究人群中 83.7%的高和低疼痛敏感性。总之,我们表明,疼痛敏感性的个体差异与感觉运动皮层的静息状态功能连接、半球间 GABA 张力和 GMD 有关。此外,使用初级感觉运动皮层的影像学测量可以高度准确地预测高和低疼痛敏感性。
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