Does Peak Alpha Frequency Predict Secondary Hyperalgesia? Project presentation
(2020) Belgian Pain Society Young Researcher Day — Location: Brussels, Belgium (5.March.2020)
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- Authors
van den Broeke, Emanuel 
- Abstract
- Previous studies have demonstrated a link between some features of the frequency spectrum of the resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) and pain sensitivity (1, 2, 3). Sensorimotor Peak Alpha Frequency (PAF) is the frequency with the highest magnitude within the alpha frequency band (7-13Hz) over sensorimotor areas. It has been shown that the PAF varies among individuals. In healthy volunteers, several studies have suggested that the PAF measured during a pain-free state predicts the intensity of pain that will be perceived during the experimental induction of a painful state (2, 3, 4). More specifically, a slower PAF at baseline is associated with higher pain ratings (2, 5). The aim of this project is to test whether the PAF measured at baseline can predict the strength and/or the extent of the secondary hyperalgesia induced by high-frequency electrical stimulation of the skin (HFS) in healthy volunteers. A total of 32 healthy volunteers will be recruited. HFS (5 trains of 100 Hz electrical pulses lasting 1 s each and delivered with a 10 s inter-train interval) will be delivered to the left or right volar forearm, 10 cm from the cubital fossa. Before applying HFS, and 30 minutes after having applied HFS, three periods of moving hands, eyes open and eyes closed resting-state EEG will be recorded (32 channel EEG recording, referenced to the mastoids). In order to preferentially assess the frequency content of sensorimotor alpha rather than alpha activity originating from visual areas, a blind source separation of the EEG signals will be computed using an Independent Component Analysis. The frequency content of each independent component time course will then be assessed separately in the eyes open and the eyes closed conditions, using a fast Fourier transform (FFT) on half-overlapping 2 seconds segments. Independent Components capturing alpha power that is maximal over posterior regions and increased in the eyes closed condition will be removed. The sensorimotor PAF will then be assessed using the reconstructed EEG signals. The strength of the secondary mechanical hyperalgesia induced by HFS will be assessed by asking participants to rate on a numerical rating scale the intensity of the sensation elicited by calibrated mechanical pinprick stimuli delivered to the sensitized skin. The extent of secondary hyperalgesia will be assessed by mapping the size of the area of increased pinprick sensitivity along eight axes. Participants will also be asked to rate the intensity of the sensation perceived during HFS. Finally, to identify potential factors that could influence PAF and/or HFS-induced secondary hyperalgesia, questionnaires will be used to assess sleep (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale [KSS], Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS]) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety inventory [STAI]). Based on previous studies, we expect to observe a negative correlation between PAF and pain ratings. 1. Ploner M, Sorg C, Gross J. Brain Rhythms of Pain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. 2017;21(2):100-10. 2. Furman AJ, Meeker TJ, Rietschel JC, Yoo S, Muthulingam J, Prokhorenko M, et al. Cerebral peak alpha frequency predicts individual differences in pain sensitivity. Neuroimage. 2018;167:203-10 3. Furman AJ, Prokhorenko M, Keaser ML, Zhang J, Mazaheri A, Seminowicz DA. Sensorimotor peak alpha frequency is a reliable biomarker of pain sensitivity. 2019.. 4. Nir RR, Sinai A, Raz E, Sprecher E, Yarnitsky D. Pain assessment by continuous EEG: association between subjective perception of tonic pain and peak frequency of alpha oscillations during stimulation and at rest. Brain Res. 2010;1344:77-86. 5. Valentini E, Halder S, McInnersey D, Cooke J, Romei V. Assessing the specificity of the relationship between brain alpha oscillations and tonic pain. bioRxiv. 2019.
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Citations
Lebrun, L., Lenoir, C., van den Broeke, E., & Mouraux, A. (2020). Does Peak Alpha Frequency Predict Secondary Hyperalgesia? Project presentation. Belgian Pain Society Young Researcher Day, Brussels, Belgium. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/117183