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Abstract
Cold-sensitive and nociceptive neural pathways interact to shape the quality and intensity of thermal and pain perception. Yet the central processing of cold thermosensation in the human brain has not been extensively studied. Here, we used magnetoencephalography and EEG in healthy volunteers to investigate the time course (evoked fields and potentials) and oscillatory activity associated with the perception of cold temperature changes. Nonnoxious cold stimuli consisting of Δ3°C and Δ5°C decrements from an adapting temperature of 35°C were delivered on the dorsum of the left hand via a contact thermode. Cold-evoked fields peaked at around 240 and 500 ms, at peak latencies similar to the N1 and P2 cold-evoked potentials. Importantly, cold-related changes in oscillatory power indicated that innocuous thermosensation is mediated by oscillatory activity in the range of delta (1-4 Hz) and gamma (55-90 Hz) rhythms, originating in operculo-insular cortical regions. We suggest that delta rhythms coordinate functional integration between operculo-insular and frontoparietal regions, while gamma rhythms reflect local sensory processing in operculo-insular areas.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using magnetoencephalography, we identified spatiotemporal features of central cold processing, with respect to the time course, oscillatory profile, and neural generators of cold-evoked responses in healthy human volunteers. Cold thermosensation was associated with low- and high-frequency oscillatory rhythms, both originating in operculo-insular regions. These results support further investigations of central cold processing using magnetoencephalography or EEG and the clinical utility of cold-evoked potentials for neurophysiological assessment of cold-related small-fiber function and damage.
Highlights
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using magnetoencephalography, we identified spatiotemporal features of central cold processing, with respect to the time course, oscillatory profile, and neural generators of cold-evoked responses in healthy human volunteers
We leverage the high spatial and temporal resolution afforded by magnetoencephalography to identify distinct features of cold-related activity in terms of time course, oscillations, and source localization of cold-related responses
We investigated evoked and oscillatory neural activity associated with cold-evoked responses using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and EEG
Summary
NEW & NOTEWORTHY Using magnetoencephalography, we identified spatiotemporal features of central cold processing, with respect to the time course, oscillatory profile, and neural generators of cold-evoked responses in healthy human volunteers. Beyond operculo-insular regions, cold thermosensation is related to an extended network of brain areas including the midanterior insula, somatosensory, frontal, and parietal regions [Craig et al 2000; Hua et al 2005; see Oshiro et al (2007) and Oshiro et al (2009)] These studies provide a relatively clear picture of the neuroanatomy underlying thermosensation, little is known about the temporal and oscillatory features of coldrelated neural responses. High-frequency brain oscillations (e.g., gamma) are more transient and focal and important for local neuronal synchrony in cortical areas (Canolty and Knight 2010) Understanding these spatiotemporal and oscillatory aspects in the context of cold-related neural responses will inform the neural mechanisms underlying cold thermosensation
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