TY - JOUR
T1 - 'Virtual lesion' in pain research; A study on magnetic stimulation of the primary motor cortex
AU - Granovsky, Y.
AU - Liem, K. S.
AU - Weissman-Fogel, I.
AU - Yarnitsky, D.
AU - Chistyakov, A.
AU - Sinai, A.
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - Background 'Virtual lesion' ('VL') is a transient disruption of cortical activity during task performance. It can be induced by single pulses or short trains of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) directed to functionally relevant brain areas. We applied 'VL' methodology of a short train of TMS given on top of experimental tonic pain, expecting to see changes in pain scores. Methods Thirty young healthy subjects (15 women) were assessed with active ('VL') or 'sham' TMS in different sessions, randomly. In each session, 30 sec-long contact heat (47.5 °C, right forearm) was applied stand-alone ('baseline') and with 5 sec-long 10 Hz-TMS over left primary motor cortex (M1) starting at 17 sec of the heat stimulation. Results Pain scores decreased after 'VL' or 'sham' (p <0.001). Independently of the type of TMS, pain reduction was stronger in women (p = 0.012). A triple Sex x Stimulation type ('VL' or 'sham') x Condition ('baseline' heat pain vs. heat pain with TMS) interaction (p = 0.027) indicated stronger pain reduction by 'VL' in women (p = 0.008) and not in men (p = 0.78) as compared to 'baseline'. Pain catastrophizing and perceived stress ratings affected the model (p = 0.010 and p <0.001, respectively), but without sex differences. Conclusions This study indicates that interactions between cortical excitability of the motor cortex and nociceptive processing may be gender-related.
AB - Background 'Virtual lesion' ('VL') is a transient disruption of cortical activity during task performance. It can be induced by single pulses or short trains of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) directed to functionally relevant brain areas. We applied 'VL' methodology of a short train of TMS given on top of experimental tonic pain, expecting to see changes in pain scores. Methods Thirty young healthy subjects (15 women) were assessed with active ('VL') or 'sham' TMS in different sessions, randomly. In each session, 30 sec-long contact heat (47.5 °C, right forearm) was applied stand-alone ('baseline') and with 5 sec-long 10 Hz-TMS over left primary motor cortex (M1) starting at 17 sec of the heat stimulation. Results Pain scores decreased after 'VL' or 'sham' (p <0.001). Independently of the type of TMS, pain reduction was stronger in women (p = 0.012). A triple Sex x Stimulation type ('VL' or 'sham') x Condition ('baseline' heat pain vs. heat pain with TMS) interaction (p = 0.027) indicated stronger pain reduction by 'VL' in women (p = 0.008) and not in men (p = 0.78) as compared to 'baseline'. Pain catastrophizing and perceived stress ratings affected the model (p = 0.010 and p <0.001, respectively), but without sex differences. Conclusions This study indicates that interactions between cortical excitability of the motor cortex and nociceptive processing may be gender-related.
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U2 - 10.1002/ejp.715
DO - 10.1002/ejp.715
M3 - Article
C2 - 25919687
AN - SCOPUS:84957845981
SN - 1090-3801
VL - 20
SP - 241
EP - 249
JO - European Journal of Pain (United Kingdom)
JF - European Journal of Pain (United Kingdom)
IS - 2
ER -