Alterations in power spectral density in motor- and pain-related networks on neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury

This study investigates how brain activity changes in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) who experience neuropathic pain and mobility issues. It uses resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and power spectral density (PSD) analysis to examine brain networks related to motor function and pain. The research compares brain activity patterns in SCI patients to those of healthy individuals, looking for differences in the strength and patterns of brain signals. The goal is to understand how these changes in brain activity relate to the severity of pain and the ability to move. The findings could help in developing better rehabilitation strategies that target specific brain areas to improve both mobility and pain management in people with SCI.

• 1
  Lower PSD values in supplementary motor and medial prefrontal areas were associated with greater pain severity and poorer postural balance and mobility in patients with SCI.
• 2
  Higher PSD values in the primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, thalamus, and periaqueductal gray were associated with greater pain severity and poorer postural balance and mobility.
• 3
  Cortical and subcortical plastic alterations in intrinsic motor- and pain-related networks were observed in patients with SCI and were simultaneously associated with neuropathic pain intensity and degree of mobility function.