Abstract
ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to investigate the spontaneous neural activity in the conventional frequency band (0.01−0.08 Hz) and two sub-frequency bands (slow-4: 0.027–0.073 Hz, and slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz) in tension-type headache (TTH) patients with regional homogeneity (ReHo) analyses.MethodsThirty-eight TTH patients and thirty-eight healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) scanning to investigate abnormal spontaneous neural activity using ReHo analysis in conventional frequency band (0.01−0.08 Hz) and two sub-frequency bands (slow-4: 0.027–0.073 Hz and slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz).ResultsIn comparison with the HC group, patients with TTH exhibited ReHo increases in the right medial superior frontal gyrus in the conventional frequency band (0.01−0.08 Hz). The between group differences in the slow-5 band (0.01–0.027 Hz) highly resembled the differences in the conventional frequency band (0.01−0.08 Hz); even the voxels with increased ReHo were spatially more extensive, including the right medial superior frontal gyrus and the middle frontal gyrus. In contrast, no region showed significant between-group differences in the slow-4 band (0.027–0.073 Hz). The correlation analyses showed no correlation between the ReHo values in TTH patients and VAS scores, course of disease and number of seizures per month in conventional band (0.01−0.08 Hz), slow-4 band (0.027–0.073 Hz), as well as in slow-5 band (0.01–0.027 Hz).ConclusionsThe results showed that the superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus were involved in the integration and processing of pain signals. In addition, the abnormal spontaneous neural activity in TTH patients was frequency-specific. Namely, slow-5 band (0.01–0.027 Hz) might contain additional useful information in comparison to slow-4 band (0.027−0.073 Hz). This preliminary exploration might provide an objective imaging basis for the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanism of TTH.
Highlights
Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common form of all headache disorders throughout the world [1]
In the slow-5 band (0.01–0.027 Hz), there were four clusters exhibiting significant increases relative to the healthy controls (HCs) group, with the peak coordinate located in the right medial superior frontal gyrus (Cluster 2, BA32; Considering the Cluster 2 spanning several brain regions of AAL, we showed the specific brain regions contained in the cluster in Figure S18 in the supplementary materials)
The correlation analyses showed no correlation between the regional homogeneity (ReHo) values in TTH patients and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, number of seizures per month and course of disease in conventional band (0.01−0.08 Hz), slow-4 band (0.027– 0.073 Hz), as well as in slow-5 band (0.01–0.027 Hz). (See Table S4, Table S5, Table S6 in the supplementary materials for specific results of correlation analysis)
Summary
Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common form of all headache disorders throughout the world [1]. In the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), TTH ranks third in terms of global prevalence, second only to dental caries and latent tuberculosis infection [2]. As a major global public health concern, TTH has caused a significant impact on society as a whole, as well as on our daily lives. The estimated total indirect annual financial losses to society due to TTH were CNY 233.2 billion [3] and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) caused by TTHs were 7.2 million [2]. It has become increasingly important to understand the pathophysiology of TTH, to develop an effective therapeutic agenda. The exact mechanisms of TTH are not fully understood [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
