The locus coeruleus noradrenergic system gates deficits in visual attention induced by chronic pain

Moazen, Parisa; Torabi, Mona; Azizi, Hossein; Fathollahi, Yaghoub; Mirnajafi‐Zadeh, Javad; Semnanian, Saeed

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112600

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Painful emotional stimulation can also activate neurons in the LC. In addition, stress activates LC neurons and enhances NE synthesis and secretion, pain perception in the prefrontal lobe, and sympathetic activity [36]. Experimental studies have also found that peripheral nerve injury induces neuronal plasticity of inhibitory neurons releasing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the LC and spinal dorsal horn, resulting in induction of anxiety after pain [37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cerebral Gray Matter Volume Changes in Patients with Neuropathic Pain from Total Brachial Plexus Injury

Wang

Huang

et al. 2022

Eur Neurol

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Introduction: Total brachial plexus injury not only significantly affects the motor and sensory function of the affected upper limbs but also causes further physical and mental damage to patients with long-term intractable pain. Previous studies mainly focused on the surgical treatment, while only a few paid attention to the intractable neuropathic pain caused by this injury. Changes in the volume of gray matter in the brain are thought to be associated with chronic neuropathic pain. Methods: Voxel-based morphometry analysis was used to compare the difference in cerebral gray matter volume between total brachial plexus injury patients with neuropathic pain and healthy controls. Correlations between pain duration, pain severity, and GM changes were analyzed. Results: The volume of cerebral gray matter in the patient group was decreased significantly in multiple regions, including the parahippocampal gyrus, paracentric lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, auxiliary motor cortex, middle occipital gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, while it was increased in the insular, pons, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, bilateral thalamus, and globus pallidus. There were no significant correlations between pain duration and rGMV changes, while a positive correlation was observed between pain severity and rGMV changes in one specific region, involving the anterior cingulate cortex. Conclusion: Total brachial plexus injury patients with chronic pain have widespread regions of gray matter atrophy and hypertrophy. The only positive correlation was observed between pain severity and rGMV changes in one specific region, suggesting that nociceptive stimuli trigger a variety of nonpain-specific processes, which confirms the multidimensional nature of pain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cerebral Gray Matter Volume Changes in Patients with Neuropathic Pain from Total Brachial Plexus Injury

Wang

Huang

et al. 2022

Eur Neurol

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“…Numerous prior studies have argued, either directly or indirectly, that several neurotransmitter systems involved in pain processing may also be implicated in attentional activity regulation. 27,[46][47][48] This paper's objective is to review the evidence that indicates that different neuromodulators (GABA, ACH, DA, NA, and 5HT) play a direct or indirect role in pain and attention. However, there is currently no direct evidence linking the two.…”

Section: Neurotransmitters and Receptors In Pain And Attention Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pain Comorbidities with Attention Deficit: A Narrative Review of Clinical and Preclinical Research

Liang,

He,

Liu

et al. 2024

JPR

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A negative correlation exists between attention and pain. The cognitive impairments linked to pain can significantly impede a patient’s healing process and everyday tasks, particularly for individuals experiencing persistent pain. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that diversion can effectively decrease pain levels in individuals. The focus of this review is to analyze clinical trials and fundamental investigations regarding alterations in focus and persistent discomfort. Moreover, we investigated the common neuroanatomy associated with attention and pain. Furthermore, we examined the impact of various neuromodulators on the transmission of pain and processes related to attention, while also considering the potential neural mechanisms that contribute to the co-occurrence of pain and attention deficits. Further investigation in this field will enhance our comprehension of patient symptoms and the underlying pathophysiology, ultimately resulting in more objective approaches to treatment.

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“…Alertness during visual tasks is commonly assessed using pupillometry, which has been shown to be an objective and reliable method (Vogels et al 2018 ; Zele and Gamlin 2020 ). Pupillary dilatations are suggested to result from increased activity of locus coeruleus (Marshall 2000 , 2007 ; Czerniak et al 2021 ), which is related to level of alertness (Moazen et al 2020 ) and can be altered in presence of pain (Moazen et al 2020 ). In general, alertness measured via pupillary responses can be divided into the slow adapting pupil dilatations representing tonic alertness (attending to various objects simultaneously) and high frequency pupillary responses representing phasic alertness (attending to a specific object) (O’Bryan and Scolari 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pupillometric parameters of alertness during unpredictable but not predictable smooth pursuit neck torsion test are altered in patients with neck pain disorders: a cross-sectional study

et al. 2023

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Despite commonly investigated predictable smooth-pursuit neck-torsion tasks (SPNT) in neck pain patients, unpredictable conditions have been seldom investigated but are indicative of preserved oculomotor functions during neck torsion. Although not previously studied, some speculations about compensatory cognitive mechanisms such as increased phasic alertness during unpredictable tasks were suggested. The aim of this study was to investigate eye movement accuracy and pupillometric responses during predictable and unpredictable SPNT test in neck pain patients and asymptomatic controls. Eye movements (gain and SPNT-difference) and pupillometry indicative of tonic (average and relative pupil diameter) and phasic (index of cognitive activity-ICA) alertness were measured in 28 idiopathic neck pain patients and 30 asymptomatic individuals using infrared video-oculography during predictable and unpredictable SPNT test. Gain in unpredictable SPNT test was lower as compared to predictable tasks and presented with similar levels in neutral and neck torsion positions, but not in the predictable SPNT test. ICA was lower during neutral position in all tasks in patients as compared to control group but increased during neck torsion positions in unpredictable tasks. Relative pupil diameters presented with no differences between the groups or neck positions, but the opposite was observed for average pupil diameter. Higher ICA indicates an increase in phasic alertness in neck pain patients despite no alterations in oculomotor control during SPNT test. This is the first study to indicate cognitive deficits in oculomotor task in neck pain patients. The latter could negatively affect other tasks where additional cognitive resources must be involved.

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The locus coeruleus noradrenergic system gates deficits in visual attention induced by chronic pain

Cited by 8 publications

References 57 publications

Cerebral Gray Matter Volume Changes in Patients with Neuropathic Pain from Total Brachial Plexus Injury

Cerebral Gray Matter Volume Changes in Patients with Neuropathic Pain from Total Brachial Plexus Injury

Pain Comorbidities with Attention Deficit: A Narrative Review of Clinical and Preclinical Research

Pupillometric parameters of alertness during unpredictable but not predictable smooth pursuit neck torsion test are altered in patients with neck pain disorders: a cross-sectional study

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