Electroencephalography Longitudinal Markers of Central Neuropathic Pain Intensity in Spinal Cord Injury: A Home-Based Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: It is well known from cross-sectional studies that pain intensity affects brain activity as measured by electroencephalography (EEG) in people with neuropathic pain (NP). However, quantitative characterisation is scarce. Methods: In this longitudinal study, ten people with spinal cord injury-related NP recorded their home EEG activity ten days before and after taking medications over a period of several weeks. Results: The reduction in pain due to medications was accompanied by changes in the resting state EEG and its reactivity to eyes opening (EO) and closing (EC). There was a significant positive correlation between the frontal theta band and the intensity of pain (visual numerical scale) pre-medication (p = 0.007, Pearson R = 0.29) and theta, alpha, and lower beta (6–15 Hz) band power and the intensity of pain after post-medication over the frontal, central, and parietal cortices. Reactivity had a negative correlation with pain intensity at all locations and frequency bands and showed similar behaviour in wider frequency bands like 8–15 Hz at the occipital cortex and 2–12 Hz at the frontal cortex. Conclusions: EEG could be used to detect the intensity of NP to serve as a surrogate or pharmacodynamic marker.