Altered brain functional network dynamics in classic trigeminal neuralgia: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Wanjun Hu¹  Jing Zhang²  Jiao Han³  Pengfei Zhang⁴  Laiyang Ma⁴  Guangyao Liu⁴  Jun Wang⁴  Yanli Jiang⁴ 

[1] Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 730000, Lanzhou, China;Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 730000, Lanzhou, China;Gansu Province Clinical Research Center for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Cuiyingmen No.82, Chengguan District, 730030, Lanzhou, P. R. China;Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China;Second Clinical School, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China;Department of Magnetic Resonance, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 730000, Lanzhou, China;

关键词: Trigeminal neuralgia;    Chronic pain;    Resting-state functional MRI;    Dynamic functional connectivity;    Dynamic pain connectome;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s10194-021-01354-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAccumulating studies have indicated a wide range of brain alterations with respect to the structure and function of classic trigeminal neuralgia (CTN). Given the dynamic nature of pain experience, the exploration of temporal fluctuations in interregional activity covariance may enhance the understanding of pain processes in the brain. The present study aimed to characterize the temporal features of functional connectivity (FC) states as well as topological alteration in CTN.MethodsResting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional T1-weighted images were obtained from 41 CTN patients and 43 matched healthy controls (HCs). After group independent component analysis, sliding window based dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) analysis was applied to investigate specific FC states and related temporal properties. Then, the dynamics of the whole brain topological organization were estimated by calculating the coefficient of variation of graph-theoretical properties. Further correlation analyses were performed between all these measurements and clinical data.ResultsTwo distinct states were identified. Of these, the state 2, characterized by complicated coupling between default mode network (DMN) and cognitive control network (CC) and tight connections within DMN, was expressed more in CTN patients and presented as increased fractional windows and dwell time. Moreover, patients switched less frequently between states than HCs. Regarding the dynamic topological analysis, disruptions in global graph-theoretical properties (including network efficiency and small-worldness) were observed in patients, coupled with decreased variability in nodal efficiency of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the salience network (SN) and the thalamus and caudate nucleus in the subcortical network (SC). The variation of topological properties showed negative correlation with disease duration and attack frequency.ConclusionsThe present study indicated disrupted flexibility of brain topological organization under persistent noxious stimulation and further highlighted the important role of “dynamic pain connectome” regions (including DMN/CC/SN) in the pathophysiology of CTN from the temporal fluctuation aspect. Additionally, the findings provided supplementary evidence for current knowledge about the aberrant cortical-subcortical interaction in pain development.

【 授权许可】

CC BY