Network Analysis of Induced Neural Plasticity Post-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain

Abstract

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a costly and prevalent condition that affects the lives of over 50 million individuals in the United States. Chronic pain leads to functional brain changes in those suffering from the condition. Not only does the primary pain network transform as the condition changes from acute to persistent pain, a state of hyper-connectivity also exists between the default mode, frontoparietal, and salience networks. Graph theory analysis has recently been used to investigate treatment-driven brain network changes. For example, current research suggests that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may reduce the chronic pain associated hyper-connectivity between the default mode, frontoparietal, and salience networks, as well as within the salience network. This study extended previous work by examining the associations between the three networks above and a meta-analytically derived pain network. Results indicate decreased connectivity within the pain network (including left putamen, right insula, left insula, and right thalamus) in addition to triple network connectivity changes after the four-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention.

TRPV1 Responses in the Cerebellum Lobules VI, VII, VIII Using Electroacupuncture Treatment for Chronic Pain and Depression Comorbidity in a Murine Model

“…Recent literature has discovered that accelerated brain ageing accompanies chronic pain conditions, whereby lower cerebellar gray matter has been identified as a key pathological contributor [ 26 ]. Moreover, the aberrant neural functional activity of chronic pain conditions involves the activation of a multitude of brain areas, with cerebellar involvement being consistent with network changes associated with central sensitization [ 27 ]. Additionally, modernized findings explore further roles of the cerebellum in neuropsychiatric disorders [ 28 ] and serve to define a multitude of important physiological responses that require additional attention from researchers in the field of nociception and psychiatry.…”

Pain control based on oscillatory brain activity using transcranial alternating current stimulation: An integrative review

“…Moreover, while each network independently demonstrates changes in functional connectivity, it has also been reported that hyper-connectivity between these networks exists in patients with chronic pain ( Napadow et al, 2010 ; Hemington et al, 2018 ; van Ettinger-Veenstra et al, 2019 ; Ellingsen et al, 2021 ). Consistent with these findings, clinical studies have reported that pharmacological pain therapy reduced functional connectivity between DMN-SN and DMN-SMN ( Rogachov et al, 2019 ), and that cognitive-behavioral pain therapy reduced the functional connectivity between DMN, FPN, and SN in patients with chronic pain ( Meier et al, 2020 ). The neural oscillatory coupling between distant brain regions serves the integrative functions by facilitating information flow throughout the brain ( Fries, 2015 ).…”

Advances in targeting central sensitization and brain plasticity in chronic pain

“…Therefore, MBCT-induced modulation of pain is different from and relies on different mechanisms compared to placebo analgesia. Positive findings are also observed with ACT interventions in relation to pain, behavior and connectivity alterations across emotion, cognition and pain processing networks [161,162]. These novel findings provide key insights into the neural plasticity mechanisms by which cognitive therapies modulate central pain processing.…”