Influence of BDNF Genotype on the Effect of Neuromodulation on Pain Signalling and Pain Perception in Humans

Thordstein Magnus,Rahin Hedayat,Jackson Walker S,Svantesson Mats

doi:10.23937/2378-3001/1410110

Abstract

Trans-spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) can alleviate pain perception in humans through plastic processes. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has been shown to influence a large number of physiological processes including those underpinning neural plasticity. A common polymorphism of BDNF (val66met), reduces the efficiency of plastic processes. We studied the effect of this BDNF polymorphism on the signalling and perception of thermal pain and to what degree these can be influenced by tsDCS in young healthy adults.

Highlights

We describe the effect of polymorphism of the plasticity promoting protein Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) on the signalling and perception of thermal pain and to what degree these can be influenced by trans-spinal Direct Current Stimulation in healthy adults.Early studies [1] indicated that anodal Trans-spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) can alleviate pain perception in humans
We studied the effect of this BDNF polymorphism on the signalling and perception of thermal pain and to what degree these can be influenced by tsDCS in young healthy adults
In a somewhat restricted number of healthy young subjects, we found that BDNF type affects the capacity of tsDCS to diminish afferent pain signalling and to reduce pain perception

Summary

Introduction

We describe the effect of polymorphism of the plasticity promoting protein Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) on the signalling and perception of thermal pain and to what degree these can be influenced by trans-spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) in healthy adults.Early studies [1] indicated that anodal tsDCS can alleviate pain perception in humans. We describe the effect of polymorphism of the plasticity promoting protein Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) on the signalling and perception of thermal pain and to what degree these can be influenced by trans-spinal Direct Current Stimulation (tsDCS) in healthy adults. Aspects favouring tsDCS are its virtually complete lack of side effects, low price and simplicity possibly allowing wide home use [3]. Even so, it would gain the introduction of the technique into clinical practice if those having negligible chances of benefitting, could be identified prior to actual treatment. Our aim was to study, at an individual level, whether there is a relationship between the form of BDNF present and the objective and subjective effects of tsDCS on pain perception and signalling, respectively

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion