Combining Regional and Connectivity Metrics of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging for Individualized Prediction of Pain Sensitivity

Abstract

Characterization and prediction of individual difference of pain sensitivity are of great importance in clinical practice. MRI techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), have been popularly used to predict an individual’s pain sensitivity, but existing studies are limited by using one single imaging modality (fMRI or DTI) and/or using one type of metrics (regional or connectivity features). As a result, pain-relevant information in MRI has not been fully revealed and the associations among different imaging modalities and different features have not been fully explored for elucidating pain sensitivity. In this study, we investigated the predictive capability of multi-features (regional and connectivity metrics) of multimodal MRI (fMRI and DTI) in the prediction of pain sensitivity using data from 210 healthy subjects. We found that fusing fMRI-DTI and regional-connectivity features are capable of more accurately predicting an individual’s pain sensitivity than only using one type of feature or using one imaging modality. These results revealed rich information regarding individual pain sensitivity from the brain’s both structural and functional perspectives as well as from both regional and connectivity metrics. Hence, this study provided a more comprehensive characterization of the neural correlates of individual pain sensitivity, which holds a great potential for clinical pain management.

Functional MRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Migraine: A Review of Migraine Functional and White Matter Microstructural Changes

“… 73 Zou et al in 2022 combined imaging to identify prominent prefrontal-parietal and insula-cingulate connectivity that more accurately predicts individualized pain threshold compared to using fMRI and DTI alone, highlighting key roles of the insula, precuneus, and calcarine in pain sensitivity. 74 These regional connectivity features related to visual and pain modulatory pathways support reported changes to FC and diffusion indices in the migraine literature.…”