fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one

Laser-induced heat pain and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques were used to investigate the modulation of pain response under two different conditions. One condition was when the participants were not accompanied by their loved ones (Alone condition) and the other condition w...

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Main Author: Tamam, Sofina
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2016
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Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/44263/1/Dr.%20Sofina%20Tamam%20%28PhD%29-24%20pages.pdf
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spelling my-usm-ep.442632020-10-22T03:03:17Z fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one 2016-09 Tamam, Sofina R Medicine (General) Laser-induced heat pain and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques were used to investigate the modulation of pain response under two different conditions. One condition was when the participants were not accompanied by their loved ones (Alone condition) and the other condition was when the participants were accompanied by their loved ones (Support condition) during pain stimulus delivery inside the MRI gantry. Th:YAG laser was used as pain stimuli with its light beam targeted onto the dorsum of the right hand. An experimental paradigm utilizing block design was first developed for the fMRI scan. 17 female subjects participated (mean age 20.59; SD 2.85 years) and the pain threshold was determined prior to scanning. The Experience Closed Relationship - Relationship Structure (ECR - RS) test and USM personality inventory questionnaires (USMaP-i) were given prior to fMRI scanning. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) version 8 with Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) approach was used to investigate the connectivity between activated regions and one optimum connectivity model was identified finally. It was found that individual responses to pain may be divided into two categories. The group accompanied by a family member as the loved one have lower pain threshold in Support condition, representing Love Hurts; while the group accompanied by a partner have higher pain threshold in the same condition, representing Love Heals. Extraversion personality was found to reduce the response to pain stimulation when accompanied by the loved one. All participants showed activations in areas associated with pain processing. In Alone condition, ACC, MCC,INS, AMY, VLPFC and HIP were activated, while in Support condition, INS, VLPFC, SII, THA and supramarginal gyrus were activated. DCM analysis revealed that Love Hurts involved activations in THA, PHG and HIP while Love Heals involved activations in all parts of cingulate cortex. BMS showed that Love Heals could be represented by a cortical network involving the intrinsic connectivity of ACC → PCC → MCC and ACC → MCC. In conclusion, the present study revealed that having a loved one nearby modulates pain differently depending on the personality of the individual and the type of relationship with the loved one. More interestingly, this study discovers a new possible cortical network for Love Heals 2016-09 Thesis http://eprints.usm.my/44263/ http://eprints.usm.my/44263/1/Dr.%20Sofina%20Tamam%20%28PhD%29-24%20pages.pdf application/pdf en public masters Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan Universiti Sains Malaysia
institution Universiti Sains Malaysia
collection USM Institutional Repository
language English
topic R Medicine (General)
spellingShingle R Medicine (General)
Tamam, Sofina
fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
description Laser-induced heat pain and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques were used to investigate the modulation of pain response under two different conditions. One condition was when the participants were not accompanied by their loved ones (Alone condition) and the other condition was when the participants were accompanied by their loved ones (Support condition) during pain stimulus delivery inside the MRI gantry. Th:YAG laser was used as pain stimuli with its light beam targeted onto the dorsum of the right hand. An experimental paradigm utilizing block design was first developed for the fMRI scan. 17 female subjects participated (mean age 20.59; SD 2.85 years) and the pain threshold was determined prior to scanning. The Experience Closed Relationship - Relationship Structure (ECR - RS) test and USM personality inventory questionnaires (USMaP-i) were given prior to fMRI scanning. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) version 8 with Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM) approach was used to investigate the connectivity between activated regions and one optimum connectivity model was identified finally. It was found that individual responses to pain may be divided into two categories. The group accompanied by a family member as the loved one have lower pain threshold in Support condition, representing Love Hurts; while the group accompanied by a partner have higher pain threshold in the same condition, representing Love Heals. Extraversion personality was found to reduce the response to pain stimulation when accompanied by the loved one. All participants showed activations in areas associated with pain processing. In Alone condition, ACC, MCC,INS, AMY, VLPFC and HIP were activated, while in Support condition, INS, VLPFC, SII, THA and supramarginal gyrus were activated. DCM analysis revealed that Love Hurts involved activations in THA, PHG and HIP while Love Heals involved activations in all parts of cingulate cortex. BMS showed that Love Heals could be represented by a cortical network involving the intrinsic connectivity of ACC → PCC → MCC and ACC → MCC. In conclusion, the present study revealed that having a loved one nearby modulates pain differently depending on the personality of the individual and the type of relationship with the loved one. More interestingly, this study discovers a new possible cortical network for Love Heals
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Tamam, Sofina
author_facet Tamam, Sofina
author_sort Tamam, Sofina
title fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
title_short fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
title_full fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
title_fullStr fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
title_full_unstemmed fMRI study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
title_sort fmri study of pain threshold in the presence and absence of the loved one
granting_institution Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan
granting_department Universiti Sains Malaysia
publishDate 2016
url http://eprints.usm.my/44263/1/Dr.%20Sofina%20Tamam%20%28PhD%29-24%20pages.pdf
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