Ultrasound-guided, open-source microneurography: Approaches to improve recordings from peripheral nerves in man

Dunham, James P.; Sales, Anna C; Pickering, Anthony E.

doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2018.07.011

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The ultrasonography in small fiber neuropathies, in addition, reveal an enlarged cross-sectional area similar to that in large fiber polyneuropathy, which eases the placement of microneurography [8]. Ultrasound, in combination with an 'open access' amplifier and data capture system (Open-Ephys), simplifies the procedure of microneurography [9]. The nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII) is a widely investigated neurophysiological tool for the clinical evaluation of neuropathic pain [10].…”

Section: Small Fibre Neuropathymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Methods of Small Fiber Neuropathies in Rehabilitation

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This systematic review describes the several methods to diagnose and measure the severity of small fiber neuropathies and aims to guide the physician to define all the diagnostic approaches for adopting the best strategies described in the current literature. The search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently reviewed and came to consensus on which articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The authors excluded all the duplicates, animals’ studies, and included the English articles in which the diagnostic measures were finalized to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation and pharmacologic treatment of patients with small fiber neuropathies. The search identified a total of 975 articles with the keywords “small fiber neuropathy” AND “rehabilitation” OR “therapy” OR “treatment”. Seventy-eight selected full-text were analyzed by the reviewers. Forty-one publications met the inclusion criteria and were included in the systematic review. Despite the range of diagnostic tools for the assessment of small fiber neuropathy, other robust trials are needed. In addition, always different diagnostic approaches are used, a unique protocol could be important for the clinicians. More research is needed to build evidence for the best diagnostic methodologies and to delineate a definitive diagnostic protocol.

show abstract

Section: Small Fibre Neuropathymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Methods of Small Fiber Neuropathies in Rehabilitation

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, this is not currently possible to use in routine INMS studies. However, future studies, assisted by technical developments such as ultrasound guidance (Dunham et al., 2018) and multicontact electrode recordings (Sales et al., 2022) may increase the practical feasibility of using this paired recording technique to investigate afferent recruitment and dependence on stimulation parameters directly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slowly‐adapting type II afferents contribute to conscious touch sensation in humans: Evidence from single unit intraneural microstimulation

Watkins

Amante

Wasling

et al. 2022

The Journal of Physiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Slowly‐adapting type II (SA‐II, Ruffini) mechanoreceptive afferents respond well to pressure and stretch, and are regularly encountered in human microneurography studies. Despite an understanding of SA‐II response properties, their role in touch perception remains unclear. Specific roles of different myelinated Aβ mechanoreceptive afferents in tactile perception have been revealed using single unit intraneural microstimulation (INMS), via microneurography, recording from and then electrically stimulating individual afferents. This method directly links single afferent artificial activation to perception, where INMS produces specific ‘quantal’ touch percepts associated with different mechanoreceptive afferent types. However, SA‐II afferent stimulation has been ambiguous, producing inconsistent, vague sensations, or no clear percept. We physiologically characterized hundreds of individual Aβ mechanoreceptive afferents in the glabrous hand skin and examined the subsequent percepts evoked by trains of low amplitude INMS current pulses (<10 μA). We present 18 SA‐II afferents where INMS resulted in a clear, electrically evoked sensation of large (∼36 mm2) diffuse pressure, which was projected precisely to their physiologically‐defined receptive field in the skin. This sensation was felt as natural, distinctive from other afferents, and showed no indications of multi‐afferent stimulation. Stimulus frequency modulated sensation intensity and even brief stimuli (4 pulses, 60 ms) were perceived. These results suggest that SA‐II afferents contribute to perceived tactile sensations, can signal this rapidly and precisely, and are relevant and important for computational models of touch sensation and artificial prosthetic feedback. Key points Slowly adapting type II mechanoreceptors (SA‐IIs) are primary sensory neurons in humans that respond to pressure and stretch applied to the skin. To date, no specific conscious correlate of touch has been linked to SA‐II activation. Using microneurography and intraneural microstimulation to stimulate single sensory neurons in human subjects, we find a specific sensation linked to the activation of single SA‐II afferents. This sensation of touch was reported as gentle pressure and subjects could detect this with a high degree of accuracy. Methods of artificial tactile sensory feedback and computational models of touch should include SA‐IIs as meaningful contributors to the conscious sensation of touch.

show abstract

“…Alternate present-day measures of small fiber nerve function usually address diffuse small fiber neuropathies [153], and a non-invasive quantitative measure that precisely measures focal small fiber activity is otherwise lacking. Further, with the advent of ultrasound guided microneurography [154], the roles for microneurography have been greatly expanded, potentially including clinic-based evaluation for painful neuroma after nerve injury as well as research-based longitudinal tracking of small fiber activity in response to therapy.…”

Section: Microneurographymentioning

confidence: 99%

A scoping review of current and emerging techniques for evaluation of peripheral nerve health, degeneration, and regeneration: part 1, neurophysiology

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Peripheral neuroregeneration research and therapeutic options are expanding exponentially. With this expansion comes an increasing need to reliably evaluate and quantify nerve health. Valid and responsive measures that can serve as biomarkers of the nerve status are essential for both clinical and research purposes for diagnosis, longitudinal follow-up, and monitoring the impact of any intervention. Furthermore, such biomarkers can elucidate regeneration mechanisms and open new avenues for research. Without these measures, clinical decision-making falls short, and research becomes more costly, time-consuming, and sometimes infeasible. As a companion to Part 2, which is focused on non-invasive imaging, Part 1 of this two-part scoping review systematically identifies and critically examines many current and emerging neurophysiological techniques that have the potential to evaluate peripheral nerve health, particularly from the perspective of regenerative therapies and research.

show abstract

Ultrasound-guided, open-source microneurography: Approaches to improve recordings from peripheral nerves in man

Abstract: We anticipate that the adoption of these techniques will improve microneurography experimental efficiency, adds an important visual learning aid and increases the generalisability of the approach.

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Methods of Small Fiber Neuropathies in Rehabilitation

A Systematic Review of the Diagnostic Methods of Small Fiber Neuropathies in Rehabilitation

Slowly‐adapting type II afferents contribute to conscious touch sensation in humans: Evidence from single unit intraneural microstimulation

A scoping review of current and emerging techniques for evaluation of peripheral nerve health, degeneration, and regeneration: part 1, neurophysiology

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About