Functional connectivity across dorsal and ventral attention networks in response to task difficulty and experimental pain. (10th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fairclough, Stephen H.; Stamp, Kellyann; Dobbins, Chelsea
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 793(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-10
• Subjects: Attention -- Pain -- fNIRS -- Dorsal attention network -- Ventral attention network -- Functional connectivity -- Granger; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136967
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Pain associated with bottom-up activation from Ventral Attention System. Task demand increased top-down activation on frontoparietal network. Top-down activation increased when pain combined with high task demand. Right inferior frontal gyrus implicated as hub for interhemispheric connectivity. Abstract: The dorsal and ventral attention networks (DAN & VAN) provide a framework for studying attentional modulation of pain. It has been argued that cognitive demand distracts attention from painful stimuli via top-down reinforcement of task goals (DAN), whereas pain exerts an interruptive effect on cognitive performance via bottom-up pathways (VAN). The current study explores this explanatory framework by manipulating pain and task demand in combination with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Granger Causal Connectivity Analyses (GCCA). Twenty-one participants played a racing game at low and high difficulty levels with or without experimental pain (administered via a cold pressor test). Six channels of fNIRS were collected from bilateral frontal eye fields and intraparietal sulci (DAN), with right-lateralised channels at the inferior frontal gyrus and temporoparietal junction (VAN). Our first analysis revealed increased G-causality from bottom-up pathways (VAN) during the cold pressor test. However, an equivalent experience of experimental pain during gameplay increased G-causality in top-down (DAN) pathways, with the left intraparietal sulcus serving a hub of connectivity. High game difficulty increased G-causality via top-down pathways and implicated the right inferior frontal gyrus as an interhemispheric hub. Our results are discussed with reference to existing models of both networks and attentional modulation of pain.