Sex-differences in network level brain dynamics associated with pain sensitivity and pain interference.
Hum Brain Mapp
; 42(3): 598-614, 2021 02 15.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33068500
ABSTRACT
Neural dynamics can shape human experience, including pain. Pain has been linked to dynamic functional connectivity within and across brain regions of the dynamic pain connectome (consisting of the ascending nociceptive pathway (Asc), descending antinociceptive pathway (Desc), salience network (SN), and the default mode network (DMN)), and also shows sex differences. These linkages are based on fMRI-derived slow hemodynamics. Here, we utilized the fine temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure resting state functional coupling (FCp) related to individual pain perception and pain interference in 50 healthy individuals (26 women, 24 men). We found that pain sensitivity and pain interference were linked to within- and cross-network broadband FCp across the Asc and SN. We also identified sex differences in these relationships (a) women exhibited greater within-network static FCp, whereas men had greater dynamic FCp within the dynamic pain connectome; (b) relationship between pain sensitivity and pain interference with FCp in women was commonly found in theta, whereas in men, these relationships were predominantly in the beta and low gamma bands. These findings indicate that dynamic interactions of brain networks underlying pain involve fast brain communication in men but slower communication in women.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Magnetoencephalography
/
Cerebral Cortex
/
Pain Threshold
/
Pain Perception
/
Connectome
/
Default Mode Network
/
Nerve Net
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Hum Brain Mapp
Journal subject:
CEREBRO
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada