Neurophysiological mediators of perceptual, motor and autonomic components of pain
Final Report Abstract
Pain comprises not only a perceptual experience but also motor and autonomic components. These motor and autonomic components of pain are crucial to the biological function of pain, i.e. the protection of the body. In pathologic chronic pain states, abnormalities of self-efficacy, coping strategies and autonomic functions suggest alterations of the relationships between noxious stimuli and the perceptual, motor, and autonomic components of pain. Thus, understanding the relationship between noxious stimuli and the perceptual, motor and autonomic components of pain promises basic insights into the brain mechanisms of pain and the pathophysiology of chronic pain. The project therefore investigated how perceptual, motor and autonomic aspects of pain relate to each other. Moreover, we investigated how the brain translates noxious stimuli into the different components of pain. The results revealed that the perception of pain does not only shape motor and autonomic responses but that, vice versa, motor responses also shape the perception of noxious stimuli. This phenomenon was similarly found in healthy human participants and in patients suffering from chronic pain. These behavioral observations were complemented by electroencephalographic findings which revealed that the perceptual, motor and autonomic components of pain are partially independent rather than serial processes. Together, these findings advocate an extended view of pain which considers pain behavior as an important determinant of pain perception. Beyond, the findings suggest that treatments targeting motivational and motor processes can ultimately also relieve pain perception.
Publications
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Behavioral responses to noxious stimuli shape the perception of pain. Sci Rep 2017;7:44083
May ES, Tiemann L, Schmidt P, Nickel MM, Wiedemann N, Dresel C, Sorg C, Ploner M
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Distinct patterns of brain activity mediate perceptual and motor and autonomic responses to noxious stimuli. Nat Commun 2018;9(1):4487
Tiemann L, Hohn VD, Ta Dinh S, May ES, Nickel MM, Gross J, Ploner M
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Motor Responses to Noxious Stimuli Shape Pain Perception in Chronic Pain Patients. eNeuro 2018;5(5)
Heitmann H, May ES, Tiemann L, Schmidt P, Nickel MM, Ta Dinh S, Hohn VD, Tölle TR, Ploner M
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Perceptual and motor responses directly and indirectly mediate the effects of noxious stimuli on autonomic responses. Pain 2019; 160(12):2811-2818
Tiemann L, Hohn VD, Ta Dinh S, May ES, Nickel MM, Heitmann H, Ploner M
