Self-regulation of brain activity in patients with postherpetic neuralgia: a double-blind randomized study using real-time FMRI neurofeedback

Min Guan; Lijia Ma; Li Li; Bin Yan; Lu Zhao; Li Tong; Shewei Dou; Linjie Xia; Meiyun Wang; Dapeng Shi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0123675

Self-regulation of brain activity in patients with postherpetic neuralgia: a double-blind randomized study using real-time FMRI neurofeedback

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 7;10(4):e0123675. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123675. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Min Guan¹, Lijia Ma¹, Li Li², Bin Yan³, Lu Zhao⁴, Li Tong³, Shewei Dou¹, Linjie Xia⁵, Meiyun Wang¹, Dapeng Shi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
² Department of Dermatology, Second People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
³ China National Digital Switching System Engineering and Technological Research Center, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
⁴ McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Québec, Canada.
⁵ Department of Pain Management, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.

Abstract

Background: A pilot study has shown that real-time fMRI (rtfMRI) neurofeedback could be an alternative approach for chronic pain treatment. Considering the relative small sample of patients recruited and not strictly controlled condition, it is desirable to perform a replication as well as a double-blinded randomized study with a different control condition in chronic pain patients. Here we conducted a rtfMRI neurofeedback study in a subgroup of pain patients - patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) and used a different sham neurofeedback control. We explored the feasibility of self-regulation of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) activation in patients with PHN through rtfMRI neurofeedback and regulation of pain perception.

Methods: Sixteen patients (46-71 years) with PHN were randomly allocated to a experimental group (n = 8) or a control group (n = 8). 2 patients in the control group were excluded for large head motion. The experimental group was given true feedback information from their rACC whereas the control group was given sham feedback information from their posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). All subjects were instructed to perform an imagery task to increase and decrease activation within the target region using rtfMRI neurofeedback.

Results: Online analysis showed 6/8 patients in the experimental group were able to increase and decrease the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal magnitude during intermittent feedback training. However, this modulation effect was not observed in the control group. Offline analysis showed that the percentage of BOLD signal change of the target region between the last and first training in the experimental group was significantly different from the control group's and was also significantly different than 0. The changes of pain perception reflected by numerical rating scale (NRS) in the experimental group were significantly different from the control group. However, there existed no significant correlations between BOLD signal change and NRS change.

Conclusion: Patients with PHN could learn to voluntarily control over activation in rACC through rtfMRI neurofeedback and alter their pain perception level. The present study may provide new evidence that rtfMRI neurofeedback training may be a supplemental approach for chronic clinical pain management.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Double-Blind Method
Female
Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Cortex / physiopathology
Neuralgia, Postherpetic / physiopathology*
Neuralgia, Postherpetic / therapy
Neurofeedback*
Pain Perception
Parietal Lobe / physiopathology
Temporal Lobe / physiopathology
Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

This study was supported by 1. The National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (no. 2012AA011603). (http://www.863.gov.cn/). BY, LT, MYW, DPS received the funding. 2. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81271534). (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/). MG, LJM, DPS received the funding. Both funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.