Analysis of Cortical Excitability in Neuropathic Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether patients with neuropathic pain has abnormal excitability in somatosensory cortex and abnormal sensory-motor connections.

Detailed Description
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There are several brain areas responsible for neuropathic pain reported in functional image studies, including primary sensory cortex, insula, and anterior cingulate gyrus. However, it is few informations about the functional status of these areas. Besides, the reason of the individual variability about the developement of neuropathic pain remains unknown. It is lack of satisfactory explanation about why some people developed neuropathic pain in certain diseased situation (for example, type 2 diabetes), while others do not. We hypothesis that patients with neuropathic pain has abnormal cortical excitability and plasticity in certain brain area. Therefore developed neuropathic pain certain diseased condition while others not. Therefore, we will use multimodal electrophysiology tools,such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and contact heat evoke potential to monitor the cortical excitability and plasticity non-invasively.

Official Title
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Analysis of Cortical Excitability in Neuropathic Pain: an Electrophysiology Study.

Conditions
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Neuropathic Pain, Cortical Excitability

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy volunteers patients with pain resulted from dysfunction of peripheral or central nervous system the disorders of peripheral nerves are diagnosed by nerve conduction study, quantitative sensory test, quantification of skin innervation or contact heat evoked potentials lesion of central nervous system should be confirmed by neuroimage. Exclusion Criteria: previous history of epilepsy, seizure disorders or major head injury previous brain surgery or intracranial metalic implant implanted devices as cardiac pacemaker pregnant subjects patient with severe cardiac or pulmonary disease who potentially cannot tolerate stress

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| 1<br>Healthy volunteers | |
| 2<br>Patient with neuropathic pain | |
| 3<br>patients without neuropathic pain | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Abnormal cortical excitability in motor-sensory cross-talk |  | non-applicable | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Genetic variability of neurotrophic factors between groups |  | non-applicable | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Neuropathic pain, Cortical excitability, Transcranial magnetic stimulation, Contact Heat evoked potential, peripheral nerve stimulation, neurotrophic factors