Operculoinsular cortex encodes pain intensity at the earliest stages of cortical processing as indicated by amplitude of laser-evoked potentials in humans

摘要: Abstract Converging evidence from different functional imaging studies indicates that the intensity of activation nociceptive areas (including operculoinsular cortex, primary somatosensory and anterior cingulate gyrus) correlates with perceived pain in human brain. Brief radiant laser pulses excite selectively Aδ C nociceptors superficial skin layers, provide a purely input, evoke brain potentials (laser-evoked potentials, LEPs) are commonly used to assess pathways physiological clinical studies. Aδ-related LEPs constituted components. The earliest is lateralised, small negative component (N1) which could be generated by cortex. major (N2) seems mainly result bilateral cortices contralateral it followed positive (P2) probably gyrus. Currently, early late LEP components considered differentially sensitive subjective variability perception: N2-P2 complex strongly pain, whereas N1 thought pre-perceptual sensory response. To obtain information on roles pain-related healthy humans, we examined relationship between latency amplitude (N2, P2) We found correlated significantly ratings, both within subjects. Furthermore, showed N2 P2 sensation, demonstrated explains previously described correlation vertex LEPs. Our findings confirm notion processing distributed over several areas, suggest coding noxious stimulus occurs already at stage perception processing, region and, possibly, area.