Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
ABSTRACT Introduction Persistent musculoskeletal pain is associated with altered functional and effective connectivity (EC) between cortical regions involved in pain processing. Especially, disruptions in the infraslow fluctuation (ISF) frequency band can contribute to pain persistence. ISF electroe...
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2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70541 |
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| author | Jerin Mathew Divya Bharatkumar Adhia Mark Llewellyn Smith Dirk De Ridder Ramakrishnan Mani |
| author_facet | Jerin Mathew Divya Bharatkumar Adhia Mark Llewellyn Smith Dirk De Ridder Ramakrishnan Mani |
| author_sort | Jerin Mathew |
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| description | ABSTRACT Introduction Persistent musculoskeletal pain is associated with altered functional and effective connectivity (EC) between cortical regions involved in pain processing. Especially, disruptions in the infraslow fluctuation (ISF) frequency band can contribute to pain persistence. ISF electroencephalography‐neurofeedback (EEG‐NF) has emerged as a potential non‐invasive neuromodulatory intervention targeting cortical brain regions to restore balance and modulate pain‐related pathways. However, limited research explores its effect on EC, a measure of directional information flow critical to pain experience and modulation. Methods A secondary analysis was performed using data from a randomized, double‐blind, sham‐controlled feasibility clinical trial. Participants with chronic painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) were randomized to receive either ISF‐NF or sham‐NF. Nine neurofeedback sessions targeted the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and bilateral primary somatosensory cortex (SSC: S1Lt & S1Rt). EEG data was collected at baseline and post‐intervention. Granger causality was used to measure EC changes, and between‐group statistical analyses were conducted with adjustments for multiple comparisons. Results Twenty‐one participants (mean age: 61.7 ± 7.6 years; 62% female) completed the study. ISF‐NF training significantly improved EC between pgACC and dACC, pgACC and SSC, and other targeted regions, while reducing EC from S1Rt to dACC. Changes were observed predominantly in the ISF frequency band, indicating enhanced cortical communication and modulation of pain pathways. Conclusion ISF‐NF training enhanced EC in cortical regions implicated in pain processing, supporting its potential as a neuromodulatory intervention for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Further trials are needed to confirm clinical efficacy and optimize protocol designs. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj-art-529db45595b646858e4b93a58932f2452025-08-20T03:36:13ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-06-01156n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70541Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical TrialJerin Mathew0Divya Bharatkumar Adhia1Mark Llewellyn Smith2Dirk De Ridder3Ramakrishnan Mani4Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy University of OtagoDunedin New ZealandDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine University of OtagoDunedin New ZealandNeurofeedback Therapy Services New YorkUSADivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine University of OtagoDunedin New ZealandCentre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy University of OtagoDunedin New ZealandABSTRACT Introduction Persistent musculoskeletal pain is associated with altered functional and effective connectivity (EC) between cortical regions involved in pain processing. Especially, disruptions in the infraslow fluctuation (ISF) frequency band can contribute to pain persistence. ISF electroencephalography‐neurofeedback (EEG‐NF) has emerged as a potential non‐invasive neuromodulatory intervention targeting cortical brain regions to restore balance and modulate pain‐related pathways. However, limited research explores its effect on EC, a measure of directional information flow critical to pain experience and modulation. Methods A secondary analysis was performed using data from a randomized, double‐blind, sham‐controlled feasibility clinical trial. Participants with chronic painful knee osteoarthritis (OA) were randomized to receive either ISF‐NF or sham‐NF. Nine neurofeedback sessions targeted the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), and bilateral primary somatosensory cortex (SSC: S1Lt & S1Rt). EEG data was collected at baseline and post‐intervention. Granger causality was used to measure EC changes, and between‐group statistical analyses were conducted with adjustments for multiple comparisons. Results Twenty‐one participants (mean age: 61.7 ± 7.6 years; 62% female) completed the study. ISF‐NF training significantly improved EC between pgACC and dACC, pgACC and SSC, and other targeted regions, while reducing EC from S1Rt to dACC. Changes were observed predominantly in the ISF frequency band, indicating enhanced cortical communication and modulation of pain pathways. Conclusion ISF‐NF training enhanced EC in cortical regions implicated in pain processing, supporting its potential as a neuromodulatory intervention for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Further trials are needed to confirm clinical efficacy and optimize protocol designs.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70541clinical trialEEGeffective connectivityinfraslow fluctuationsknee osteoarthritisneurofeedback |
| spellingShingle | Jerin Mathew Divya Bharatkumar Adhia Mark Llewellyn Smith Dirk De Ridder Ramakrishnan Mani Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Brain and Behavior clinical trial EEG effective connectivity infraslow fluctuations knee osteoarthritis neurofeedback |
| title | Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_full | Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_fullStr | Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_short | Can EEG‐Neurofeedback Training Enhance Effective Connectivity in People With Chronic Secondary Musculoskeletal Pain? A Secondary Analysis of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial |
| title_sort | can eeg neurofeedback training enhance effective connectivity in people with chronic secondary musculoskeletal pain a secondary analysis of a feasibility randomized controlled clinical trial |
| topic | clinical trial EEG effective connectivity infraslow fluctuations knee osteoarthritis neurofeedback |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70541 |
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