Functional alterations of the brain default mode network and somatosensory system in trigeminal neuralgia
Zairan Wang, Zijun Zhao, Zihan Song, Jiayi Xu, Yizheng Wang, Zongmao Zhao, Yongning Li
Scientific Reports May 3, 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60273-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational case-control neuroimaging study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with trigeminal neuralgia and control participants |
| Measures | regional homogeneity (ReHo), amplitude of low frequency (ALFF) |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Key findings | The authors report that TN patients show altered resting-state brain activity in multiple regions involved in pain, memory, and emotion, with differences in ReHo in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior cerebellum, right superior orbital frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, left inferior and middle temporal gyri, and left gyrus rectus, and in ALFF in left triangular inferior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, right supramarginal gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus. They suggest central mechanisms may differ by sex, affected side, and nerve damage severity, but state that the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated. |
Abstract
AbstractMapping the localization of the functional brain regions in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) patients is still lacking. The study aimed to explore the functional brain alterations and influencing factors in TN patients using functional brain imaging techniques. All participants underwent functional brain imaging to collect resting-state brain activity. The significant differences in regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low frequency (ALFF) between the TN and control groups were calculated. After familywise error (FWE) correction, the differential brain regions in ReHo values between the two groups were mainly located in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, bilateral inferior cerebellum, right superior orbital frontal gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and left gyrus rectus. The differential brain regions in ALFF values between the two groups were mainly located in the left triangular inferior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, right supramarginal gyrus, and right middle frontal gyrus. With the functional impairment of the central pain area, the active areas controlling memory and emotion also change during the progression of TN. There may be different central mechanisms in TN patients of different sexes, affected sides, and degrees of nerve damage. The exact central mechanisms remain to be elucidated.