Key result
Stepwise presentation of thermal stimuli yielded a significantly higher BOLD response in the dorsal horn compared to a block design (P < .001).
Why the study?
Does a stepwise presentation of thermal stimuli enhance spinal cord and brainstem BOLD responses compared to a block design in healthy volunteers?
Does a stepwise presentation of thermal stimuli enhance spinal cord and brainstem BOLD responses compared to a block design in healthy volunteers?
p-value: p=<.001
Stepwise presentation of thermal stimuli enhances BOLD responses in the dorsal horn compared to a block design, providing a means to probe sensory processing in the spinal cord and brainstem.
May enhance spinal fMRI sensitivity in research; leaves open validation for clinical sensory assessment.
PURPOSE: To examine the characteristics of the spinal cord and brainstem blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses to peripheral stimulation in which the temperature is raised in a stepwise fashion, in order to enhance receptor responses, compared to a block design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of the spinal cord and brainstem were carried out in 14 healthy volunteers at 3T. Thermal sensory stimuli were applied to the right hand in a block-design paradigm, and in a stepwise paradigm to the same peak temperature. Data were analyzed by means of a general linear model, region of interest analyses, and by structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Results demonstrated BOLD responses in a number of consistent regions between the two paradigms as well as significant differences (P < .001) in the locations and magnitudes of some responses. Specifically, the BOLD response in the dorsal horn was significantly higher in the stepwise compared to the block condition (P < .001). However, more significant connections (T >2) between regions were observed in the block condition. CONCLUSION: Results from this study demonstrate the means to design thermal sensory paradigms to probe components of sensory processing in the brainstem and spinal cord.
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Bosma et al. (2014) studied Healthy volunteers (n=14). Stepwise presentation of thermal stimuli vs. Block presentation of thermal stimuli was evaluated on Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the spinal cord and brainstem (p=<.001). Stepwise presentation of thermal stimuli yielded a significantly higher BOLD response in the dorsal horn compared to a block design (P < .001).