A Computational Model for Pain Processing in the Dorsal Horn Following Axonal Damage to Receptor Fibers

Abstract

Computational modeling of the neural activity in the human spinal cord may help elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved in the complex processing of painful stimuli. In this study, we use a biologically-plausible model of the dorsal horn circuitry as a platform to simulate pain processing under healthy and pathological conditions. Specifically, we distort signals in the receptor fibers akin to what is observed in axonal damage and monitor the corresponding changes in five quantitative markers associated with the pain response. Axonal damage may lead to spike-train delays, evoked potentials, an increase in the refractoriness of the system, and intermittent blockage of spikes. We demonstrate how such effects applied to mechanoreceptor and nociceptor fibers in the pain processing circuit can give rise to dramatically distinct responses at the network/population level. The computational modeling of damaged neuronal assemblies may help unravel the myriad of responses observed in painful neuropathies and improve diagnostics and treatment protocols.

Neurophysiology of pain for non-neurophysiologists: a systematic review

“…The neural signaling at this level of the nervous system can typically be modelled with biologically inspired arti cial neural networks of varying degree of complexity. High level dynamics can be examined using population rate-models and methods stemming from dynamical systems [25,26,68]. Individual neuron dynamics can further be explored using spiking neural networks or biophysical models of neurons [3,58,98].…”

A Computational Framework for Understanding the Impact of Prior Experiences on Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain

“…How and why neuropathic pain may arise and persist in the absence of tissue damage is poorly understood, and consequently is often very difficult to treat. Mathematical models of neuropathic pain have primarily focused on mechanisms in peripheral afferent neurons [4][5][6] and spinal cord neural circuits [6][7][8]. While neurophysiological changes at this level of the nervous system do contribute to neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve lesions, pain perception is also influenced by cognitive factors such as expectations based on previous experiences.…”