The predictive value of cortical activity during motor imagery for subacute spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain

Kumari, R., Gibson, H., Jarjees, M., Turner, C., Purcell, M. and Vučković, A. (2023) The predictive value of cortical activity during motor imagery for subacute spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain. Clinical Neurophysiology, 148, pp. 32-43. (doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.01.006) (PMID:36796284)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore whether cortical activation and its lateralization during motor imagery (MI) in subacute spinal cord injury (SCI) are indicative of existing or upcoming central neuropathic pain (CNP). Methods: Multichannel electroencephalogram was recorded during MI of both hands in four groups of participants: able-bodied (N=10), SCI and CNP (N=11), SCI who developed CNP within 6 months of EEG recording (N=10), and SCI who remained CNP-free (N=10). Source activations and its lateralization were derived in four frequency bands in 20 regions spanning sensorimotor cortex and pain matrix. Results: Statistically significant differences in lateralization were found in the theta band in premotor cortex (upcoming vs existing CNP, p=0.036), in the alpha band at the insula (healthy vs upcoming CNP, p=0.012), and in the higher beta band at the somatosensory association cortex (no CNP vs upcoming CNP, p=0.042). People with upcoming CNP had stronger activation compared to those with no CNP in the higher beta band for MI of both hands. Conclusions: Activation intensity and lateralization during MI in pain-related areas might hold a predictive value for CNP. Significance: The study increases understanding of the mechanisms underlying transition from asymptomatic to symptomatic early CNP in SCI.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The study has been funded by a Commonwealth scholarship (INCS-2018-244), and by EPSRC scholarship (EP/T517896/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gibson, Ms Hannah and Kumari, Ms Radha and Purcell, Mariel and Turner, Christopher John and Jarjees, Mohammed Sabah and Vuckovic, Dr Aleksandra
• Authors: Kumari, R., Gibson, H., Jarjees, M., Turner, C., Purcell, M., and Vučković, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Clinical Neurophysiology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1388-2457
• ISSN (Online): 1872-8952
• Published Online: 25 January 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
• First Published: First published in Clinical Neurophysiology 148: 32-43
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
312561		EPSRC DTP 2020/21	Christopher Pearce	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/T517896/1	Research and Innovation Services