Abstract
Using electroencephalography (EEG) power measures within conventional delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands, the aims of the current study were to highlight cortical correlates of subjective perception of cold pain (CP) and the associations of these measures with behavioral inhibition system (BIS), fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS), and behavioral approach system personality traits. EEG was recorded in 55 healthy right-handed women under (i) a white noise interruption detection condition (Baseline); (ii) enduring CP induced by the cold cup test. CP and Baseline EEG band power scores within conventional frequency bands served for covariance analyses. We found that: (1) higher Pain scorers had higher EEG beta power changes at left frontal, midline central, posterior temporal leads; (2) higher BIS was associated with greater EEG delta activity changes at parietal scalp regions; (3) higher FFFS was associated with higher EEG delta activity changes at temporal and left-parietal regions, and with lower EEG gamma activity changes at right parietal regions. High FFFS, compared to Low FFFS scorers, also showed a lower gamma power across the midline, posterior temporal, and parietal regions. Results suggest a functional role of higher EEG beta activity in the subjective perception of tonic pain. EEG delta activity underpins conflict resolution system responsible for passive avoidance control of pain, while higher EEG delta and lower EEG gamma activity changes, taken together, underpin active avoidance system responsible for pain escape behavior.
Highlights
Experimental tonic pain in a non-clinical sample is a model that resembles clinical chronic pain and serves as a useful tool to examine underpinning brain mechanisms (Huber, Bartling, Pachur, Woikowsky-Biedau, & Lautenbacher, 2006; Nir, Sinai, Moont, Harari, & Yarnitsky, 2012)
Correlations among personality measures confirm the pattern of originally reported associations (Corr & Cooper, 2016), while no significant correlations were found between Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ) traits as well as state anxiety and pain sensation measures
For beta power, the Coronal by Sagittal by NPS by Condition interaction was significant. This interaction disclosed a significantly higher beta power in High-Pain scorers at Fz, FCz, Cz, F8, T5, and T6 leads during cold pain (CP) and at F3, F4, FC4, and P4 leads during Baseline (Table 2 and Figure 2(b))
Summary
Experimental tonic pain in a non-clinical sample is a model that resembles clinical chronic pain and serves as a useful tool to examine underpinning brain mechanisms (Huber, Bartling, Pachur, Woikowsky-Biedau, & Lautenbacher, 2006; Nir, Sinai, Moont, Harari, & Yarnitsky, 2012). The magnitude of opioid as well as dopamine release in the ventral striatum is related to the amount of pain relief (Scott et al, 2007, 2008; Zubieta et al, 2005), while change in the actual enjoyment of reward once it is achieved (“liking”) seems to be more closely related to opioidergic than to dopaminergic neurotransmission (Drago, Caccamo, Continella, & Scapagnini, 1984; Schweinhardt, Seminowicz, Jaeger, Duncan, & Bushnell, 2009; Shimizu et al, 2004) In this vein, since RI and GDP components of the BAS are conceptualized to serve the early stages of approach behavior (wanting or reward anticipation), these traits can be seen as the approach components linked to the dopaminergic activity. As RR and Imp facets of the BAS are thought to serve the emotional excitement to reward, these traits are likely to depend from the function of the endogenous opioid system, which is mainly activated by the final biological reinforcer (Karjalainen et al, 2016; Pecina et al, 2013)
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