PainVision-based evaluation of brain potentials: a novel approach for quantitative pain assessment

Li Chen; Zhen Zhang; Rui Han; Liyuan Du; Zhenxing Li; Shuiping Liu; Dong Huang; Haocheng Zhou

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1197070

PainVision-based evaluation of brain potentials: a novel approach for quantitative pain assessment

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Jun 29:11:1197070. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1197070. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Li Chen¹, Zhen Zhang¹, Rui Han¹, Liyuan Du¹, Zhenxing Li¹, Shuiping Liu², Dong Huang^{1

3}, Haocheng Zhou^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pain, The Third Xiangya Hospital and Institute of Pain Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Department of Pain, Hunan Prevention and Treatment Institute for Occupational Diseases, Changsha, China.
³ Hunan Key Laboratory of Brain Homeostasis, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

Introduction: The complex and multidimensional nature of pain poses a major challenge in clinical pain assessments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate a novel approach combining quantitative sensory testing (QST) with event-related potential measurements for assessment of experimental pain in healthy individuals. Methods: QST was performed with a commercial device (PainVision, PS-2100), and numeric rating scale (NRS) scores after exposure to different sensory stimuli were reported by the participants. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) was simultaneously performed to capture the cortical responses to peripheral stimulation. Results: Pain scores increased with the intensity of stimuli, with mean NRS scores of 2.7 ± 1.0 after mild stimuli and 5.6 ± 1.0 after moderate stimuli. A reproducible, significant P2-N2 complex was evoked by both mild and moderately painful stimuli, but not by non-painful stimuli. The latency of pain-related potentials was not significantly different between stimuli. The amplitudes of both P2 and N2 components significantly increased when intense nociception was applied, and the increments mainly originated from theta oscillations. Conclusion: The combination of QST with EEG was feasible for subjective and objective pain assessment. Distinct patterns of brain potentials were associated with the phenotype of the peripheral stimuli (e.g., noxious versus. innoxious, high versus. low pain intensity).

Keywords: EEG; PainVision; event-related potential; pain assessment; quantitative sensory testing.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81901146 and 82271259 to HZ), Excellent Youth Foundation of Hunan Scientific Committee (2021JJ20091), Key Laboratory of Hunan Province grants (2018TP1009 to HZ), and Huizhiyucai Project of the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University.