scholarly journals Alterations in pain processing circuitries in episodic migraine

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffani J. Mungoven ◽  
Kasia K. Marciszewski ◽  
Vaughan G. Macefield ◽  
Paul M. Macey ◽  
Luke A. Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Episodic Migraine ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Rostral Ventromedial Medulla ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Ventromedial Medulla ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Cortical Regions

Abstract Background The precise underlying mechanisms of migraine remain unknown. Although we have previously shown acute orofacial pain evoked changes within the brainstem of individuals with migraine, we do not know if these brainstem alterations are driven by changes in higher cortical regions. The aim of this investigation is to extend our previous investigation to determine if higher brain centers display altered activation patterns and connectivity in migraineurs during acute orofacial noxious stimuli. Methods Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 29 healthy controls and 25 migraineurs during the interictal and immediately (within 24-h) prior to migraine phases. We assessed activation of higher cortical areas during noxious orofacial heat stimulation using a thermode device and assessed whole scan and pain-related changes in connectivity. Results Despite similar overall pain intensity ratings between all three groups, migraineurs in the group immediately prior to migraine displayed greater activation of the ipsilateral nucleus accumbens, the contralateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and two clusters in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Reduced whole scan dlPFC [Z + 44] connectivity with cortical/subcortical and brainstem regions involved in pain modulation such as the putamen and primary motor cortex was demonstrated in migraineurs. Pain-related changes in connectivity of the dlPFC and the hypothalamus immediately prior to migraine was also found to be reduced with brainstem pain modulatory areas such as the rostral ventromedial medulla and dorsolateral pons. Conclusions These data reveal that the modulation of brainstem pain modulatory areas by higher cortical regions may be aberrant during pain and these alterations in this descending pain modulatory pathway manifests exclusively prior to the development of a migraine attack.

scholarly journals Alterations in Pain Processing Circuitries in Episodic Migraine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffani J. Mungoven ◽  
Kasia K. Marciszewski ◽  
Vaughan G. Macefield ◽  
Paul M. Macey ◽  
Luke Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Episodic Migraine ◽  
Pain Modulation ◽  
Rostral Ventromedial Medulla ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Ventromedial Medulla ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Cortical Regions

Abstract BackgroundThe precise underlying mechanisms of migraine remain unknown. Although we have previously shown acute orofacial pain evoked changes within the brainstem of individuals with migraine, we do not know if these brainstem alterations are driven by changes in higher cortical regions. The aim of this investigation is to extend our previous investigation to determine if higher brain centers display altered activation patterns and connectivity in migraineurs during acute orofacial noxious stimuli. MethodsFunctional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 29 healthy controls and 25 migraineurs during the interictal and immediately (within 24-hours) prior to migraine phases. We assessed activation of higher cortical areas during noxious orofacial stimulation and assessed whole scan and pain-related changes in connectivity. ResultsDespite similar overall pain intensity ratings between all three groups, migraineurs in the group immediately prior to migraine displayed greater activation of the ipsilateral nucleus accumbens, the contralateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and two clusters in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Reduced whole scan connectivity dlPFC [Z+44] connectivity with cortical/subcortical and brainstem regions involved in pain modulation such as the putamen and primary motor cortex was demonstrated in migraineurs. Pain-related changes in connectivity of the dlPFC and the hypothalamus immediately prior to migraine was also found to be reduced with brainstem pain modulatory areas such as the rostral ventromedial medulla and dorsolateral pons. ConclusionsThese data reveal that the modulation of brainstem pain modulatory areas by higher cortical regions may be aberrant during pain and these alterations in this descending pain modulatory pathway manifests exclusively prior to the development of a migraine attack.

scholarly journals The Role of Primate Prefrontal Cortex in Bias and Shift Between Visual Dimensions

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farshad A Mansouri ◽  
Mark J Buckley ◽  
Daniel J Fehring ◽  
Keiji Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Anterior Cingulate ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical ◽  
Frontopolar Cortex ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Visual Cortical ◽  
Bilateral Lesions

Abstract Imaging and neural activity recording studies have shown activation in the primate prefrontal cortex when shifting attention between visual dimensions is necessary to achieve goals. A fundamental unanswered question is whether representations of these dimensions emerge from top-down attentional processes mediated by prefrontal regions or from bottom-up processes within visual cortical regions. We hypothesized a causative link between prefrontal cortical regions and dimension-based behavior. In large cohorts of humans and macaque monkeys, performing the same attention shifting task, we found that both species successfully shifted between visual dimensions, but both species also showed a significant behavioral advantage/bias to a particular dimension; however, these biases were in opposite directions in humans (bias to color) versus monkeys (bias to shape). Monkeys’ bias remained after selective bilateral lesions within the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), frontopolar cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), or superior, lateral prefrontal cortex. However, lesions within certain regions (ACC, DLPFC, or OFC) impaired monkeys’ ability to shift between these dimensions. We conclude that goal-directed processing of a particular dimension for the executive control of behavior depends on the integrity of prefrontal cortex; however, representation of competing dimensions and bias toward them does not depend on top-down prefrontal-mediated processes.

scholarly journals Altered neural activity in brain cough suppression networks in cigarette smokers

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 1900362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayaka Ando ◽  
Stuart B. Mazzone ◽  
Michael J. Farrell
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Smoking Behaviour ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Functional Brain Imaging ◽  
Cigarette Smokers ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Airway Irritation

Cough is important for airway defence, and studies in healthy animals and humans have revealed multiple brain networks intimately involved in the perception of airway irritation, cough induction and cough suppression. Changes in cough sensitivity and/or the ability to suppress cough accompany pulmonary pathologies, suggesting a level of plasticity is possible in these central neural circuits. However, little is known about how persistent inputs from the lung might modify the brain processes regulating cough.In the present study, we used human functional brain imaging to investigate the central neural responses that accompany an altered cough sensitivity in cigarette smokers.In nonsmokers, inhalation of the airway irritant capsaicin induced a transient urge-to-cough associated with the activation of a distributed brain network that included sensory, prefrontal and motor cortical regions. Cigarette smokers demonstrated significantly higher thresholds for capsaicin-induced urge-to-cough, consistent with a reduced sensitivity to airway irritation. Intriguingly, this was accompanied by increased activation in brain regions known to be involved in both cough sensory processing (primary sensorimotor cortex) and cough suppression (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the midbrain nucleus cuneiformis). Activations in the prefrontal cortex were highest among participants with the least severe smoking behaviour, whereas those in the midbrain correlated with more severe smoking behaviour.These outcomes suggest that smoking-induced sensitisation of central cough neural circuits is offset by concurrently enhanced central suppression. Furthermore, central suppression mechanisms may evolve with the severity of smoke exposure, changing from initial prefrontal inhibition to more primitive midbrain processes as exposure increases.

scholarly journals Tractography Activation Patterns in Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Suggest Better Clinical Responses in OCD DBS

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian J. Hartmann ◽  
J. Luis Lujan ◽  
Ashutosh Chaturvedi ◽  
Wayne K. Goodman ◽  
Michael S. Okun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Clinical Responses

Contrasting Connectivity of the Ventralis Intermedius and Ventralis Oralis Posterior Nuclei of the Motor Thalamus Demonstrated by Probabilistic Tractography

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 162-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Hyam ◽  
Sarah L.F. Owen ◽  
Morten L. Kringelbach ◽  
Ned Jenkinson ◽  
John F. Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Supplementary Motor Area ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Motor Area ◽  
Probabilistic Tractography ◽  
Thalamic Nuclei ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Motor Thalamus

Abstract BACKGROUND Targeting of the motor thalamus for the treatment of tremor has traditionally been achieved by a combination of anatomical atlases and neuroimaging, intraoperative clinical assessment, and physiological recordings. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether thalamic nuclei targeted in tremor surgery could be identified by virtue of their differing connections with noninvasive neuroimaging, thereby providing an extra factor to aid successful targeting. METHODS Diffusion tensor tractography was performed in 17 healthy control subjects using diffusion data acquired at 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (60 directions, b value = 1000 s/mm2, 2 × 2 × 2-mm3 voxels). The ventralis intermedius (Vim) and ventralis oralis posterior (Vop) nuclei were identified by a stereotactic neurosurgeon, and these sites were used as seeds for probabilistic tractography. The expected cortical connections of these nuclei, namely the primary motor cortex (M1) and contralateral cerebellum for the Vim and M1, the supplementary motor area, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for the Vop, were determined a priori from the literature. RESULTS Tractogram signal intensity was highest in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and supplementary motor area after Vop seeding (P > .001, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests). High intensity was seen in M1 after seeding of both nuclei but was greater with Vim seeding (P > .001). Contralateral cerebellar signal was highest with Vim seeding (P > .001). CONCLUSION Probabilistic tractography can depict differences in connectivity between intimate nuclei within the motor thalamus. These connections are consistent with published anatomical studies; therefore, tractography may provide an important adjunct in future targeting in tremor surgery.

scholarly journals Using Dual-Site Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Probe Connectivity between the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex and Ipsilateral Primary Motor Cortex in Humans

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt J.N. Brown ◽  
Elana R. Goldenkoff ◽  
Robert Chen ◽  
Carolyn Gunraj ◽  
Michael Vesia
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Primary Motor Cortex ◽  
Conditioning Stimulus ◽  
Resting Motor Threshold ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Dual Site

Dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation to the primary motor cortex (M1) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can be used to probe functional connectivity between these regions. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of DLPFC stimulation on ipsilateral M1 excitability while participants were at rest and contracting the left- and right-hand first dorsal interosseous muscle. Twelve participants were tested in two separate sessions at varying inter-stimulus intervals (ISI: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, and 20 ms) at two different conditioning stimulus intensities (80% and 120% of resting motor threshold). No significant effect on ipsilateral M1 excitability was found when applying a conditioning stimulus over DLPFC at any specific inter-stimulus interval or intensity in either the left or right hemisphere. Our findings suggest neither causal inhibitory nor faciliatory influences of DLPFC on ipsilateral M1 activity while participants were at rest or when performing an isometric contraction in the target hand muscle.

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