The modulation of neural insular activity by a brain computer interface differentially affects pain discrimination

TY - JOUR

T1 - The modulation of neural insular activity by a brain computer interface differentially affects pain discrimination

AU - Taesler, Philipp

AU - Rose, Michael

PY - 2021/5/7

Y1 - 2021/5/7

N2 - The experience of pain is generated by activations throughout a complex pain network with the insular cortex as a central processing area. The state of ongoing oscillatory activity can influence subsequent processing throughout this network. In particular the ongoing theta-band power can be relevant for later pain processing, however a direct functional relation to post-stimulus processing or behaviour is missing. Here, we used a non-invasive brain-computer interface to either increase or decrease ongoing theta-band power originating in the insular cortex. Our results show a differential modulation of oscillatory power and even more important a transfer to independently measured pain processing and sensation. Pain evoked neural power and subjective pain discrimination were differentially affected by the induced modulations of the oscillatory state. The results demonstrate a functional relevance of insular based theta-band oscillatory states for the processing and subjective discrimination of nociceptive stimuli and offer the perspective for clinical applications.

AB - The experience of pain is generated by activations throughout a complex pain network with the insular cortex as a central processing area. The state of ongoing oscillatory activity can influence subsequent processing throughout this network. In particular the ongoing theta-band power can be relevant for later pain processing, however a direct functional relation to post-stimulus processing or behaviour is missing. Here, we used a non-invasive brain-computer interface to either increase or decrease ongoing theta-band power originating in the insular cortex. Our results show a differential modulation of oscillatory power and even more important a transfer to independently measured pain processing and sensation. Pain evoked neural power and subjective pain discrimination were differentially affected by the induced modulations of the oscillatory state. The results demonstrate a functional relevance of insular based theta-band oscillatory states for the processing and subjective discrimination of nociceptive stimuli and offer the perspective for clinical applications.

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-021-89206-3

DO - 10.1038/s41598-021-89206-3

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 33963226

VL - 11

SP - 9795

JO - SCI REP-UK

JF - SCI REP-UK

SN - 2045-2322

IS - 1

ER -