Abnormal Anatomical and Functional Connectivity of the Thalamo-sensorimotor Circuit in Chronic Low Back Pain: Resting-state Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. (1st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mao, Cui Ping; Wilson, Georgia; Cao, Jin; Meshberg, Nathaniel; Huang, Yiting; Kong, Jian
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 487(2022)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2022-04-01
• Subjects: cLBP chronic low back pain -- DTI diffusion tensor imaging -- rsFC resting-state functional connectivity; chronic low back pain -- thalamus -- diffusion tensor imaging -- probabilistic tractography -- thalamo-sensorimotor circuit -- resting-state functional connectivity; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Thalamocortical dysrhythmia is thought to underlie the pathophysiology of chronic pain. CLBP is associated with increased anatomical connectivity of the left thalamo-motor pathway revealed by DTI. Resting-state functional connectivity between bilateral motor/somatosensory cortex and the thalamus is increased in CLBP patients. Somatosensory-thalamic resting-state functional connectivity is correlated with back pain intensity. Abnormal thalamocortical connectivity might indicate disrupted communication between motor/somatosensory cortex and the thalamus in cLBP. Abstract: Thalamocortical dysfunction is thought to underlie the pathophysiology of chronic pain revealed by electroencephalographic studies. The thalamus serves as a primary relay center to transmit sensory information and motor impulses via dense connections with the somatosensory and motor cortex. In this study, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (probabilistic tractography) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (functional connectivity) were used to characterize the anatomical and functional integrity of the thalamo-sensorimotor pathway in chronic low back pain (cLBP). Fifty-four patients with cLBP and 54 healthy controls were included. The results suggested significantly increased anatomical connectivity of the left thalamo-motor pathway characterized by probabilistic tractography in patients with cLBP. Moreover, there was significantly altered resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of bilateral thalamo-motor/somatosensory pathways in patients with cLBP as compared to healthy controls. We also detected a significant correlation between pain intensity during the MRI scan and rsFC of the right thalamo-somatosensory pathway in cLBP. Our findings highlight the involvement of the thalamo-sensorimotor circuit in the pathophysiology of cLBP.