Multimodal Brain Decoding of Pain Sensitivity

Pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. However, the pain sensitivity of individuals varies to a large extent, which often results in the mismatch between clinical diagnosis or treatment and individual's actual needs. There are still no established objective indicators for comparisons between individuals. This integrated pilot project is the first large-scale, multi-modal brain decoding study for pain sensitivity. We will explore the brain network signature of pain sensitivity by analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) signals and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) Meanwhile, we will integrate the innate, environmental, and humanity factors with aforementioned brain network signatures to establish multi- modal objective model of pain sensitivity using machine learning. This research team is composed of more than 30 physicians, scientists, and IT experts, along with international collaborators with expertise in the fields of neuroscience, medical imaging, and human philosophy. The five elite groups constitute this international research team and establish five multi-disciplinary sub-projects: Sub-project A： Pain sensitivity and associated innate and environmental factors Sub-project B： Electrophysiological brain signatures of pain sensitivity Sub-project C： MRI brain signatures of pain sensitivity Sub-project D： Innovative brain computer interface (BCI) technology in pain sensitivity measurement and prediction Sub-project E： Pain and Art: neuro-mental mechanisms and potential applications There are three key features of this integrated project: scientific novelty, technology and humanity. In terms of scientific novelty, in addition to machine learning and big data applications, we will focus on the deep brain structure such as brainstem, in which the image acquisition has been difficult in the past. We will develop an MRI sequence and EEG protocol optimized for brainstem. In terms of technology, we will develop a wearable EEG cap implanted with algorithm chip for clinical measurement to decode the pain sensitivity real time. In terms of humanity, we will combine music and painting appreciation to explore their impact on brain signatures related to pain sensitivity. Furthermore, we will develop potential applications of art intervention in pain modulation. We expect this pilot project to achieve the four following goals:

1. To establish a Taiwan database of pain sensitivity. Meanwhile, to clarify the interactions between the innate and environmental factors of the individual and the brain network, and to identify brain signatures related to pain sensitivity. (sub- projects A, B, C)
2. To confirm the brain signatures for predicting the pain sensitivity using machine learning. In addition, to develop wearable devices such as EEG cap for large sample screening by combining the brain-computer interface through the industry-university cooperation (sub-projects B, C, D)
3. To explore the plasticity of brain signatures related to pain sensitivity by sensory modulation such as music, painting appreciation or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and to explore the application potential for pain modulation (sub-projects B, C, D, E)
4. Based on the cooperation model of this international research team, we will cultivate young researchers, and promote academic interactions among different team members, and improve the international visibility and competitiveness of Taiwan (sub-projects A, B, C, D, E)

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: no intervention for healthy control

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei city, Taiwan, 112
    • National Yang-Ming University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 55 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy control

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 20-55
• understand the study and provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any acute or chronic condition that could potentially affect pain perception, including diabetes, hypertension, peripheral and central nervous disorders
• Presence of any pain disorder or suffering from any acute pain within 2 weeks
• History of any neurological disease, except primary headache with headache frequency less than 1 days per month
• Psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia
• History of substance abuse, including alcohol, analgesic, and illicit drugs.
• Any condition that would make participants contra-indicated to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), or electroencephalography (EEG).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
healthy control	Other: no intervention for healthy control; observational study - no intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
sensory thresholds	Using quantitative sensory testing (QST) to evaluate the sensory threshold	30 minutes
EEG change (1)	Linear analysis of EEG with pain sensitivity	10 minutes
EEG change (2)	Nonlinear analysis of EEG with pain sensitivity	10 minutes
MRI	Analysis of MRI correlatin with pain sensitivity	90 minutes
fMRI	Analysis of fMRI correlatin with pain sensitivity	90 minutes
Humoral relationship (1)	Test the related hormones to evaluate the relationship with sensitivity	5 minutes
Humoral relationship (2)	Test the related cytokines to evaluate the relationship with sensitivity	5 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
innate and environmental factors associated with pain sensitivity	explory potential factors that may influence the pain sensitivity	5 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Yang Ming University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): September 10, 2019
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): November 20, 2020
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): December 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2020
• First Posted (ACTUAL): December 19, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 13, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: YM108044F

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No