Integration of concurrent sensory signals in the human spinal cord and brain.

人类脊髓和大脑中并发感觉信号的整合。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-06659
• 负责人: Piché, Mathieu
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714384
• 关键词: Integration; concurrent; sensory; signals; human

Pain is a sensory function supported by the peripheral and central nervous systems. These include nociceptors, the spinal cord and the brain. Nociception and pain constitute an alarm system to detect threat to body tissues, which trigger protective neural processes and behaviours. These neural processes and behaviours are critical for the integrity of the body. Nociceptive stimuli trigger motor reflexes, such as the nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR), which allows the withdrawal of a limb. This automatic response is produced by the spinal cord and is generally followed by pain perception. In turn, pain triggers behavioural responses that are coordinated by the brain and adapted to the contextual demands. In this proposal, we will investigate how the spinal cord and brain integrate multiple nociceptive stimuli to produce adapted motor reflexes and cerebral responses. When competing stimuli are processed by the brain, cognitive functions allow to select and prioritize information from these stimuli. The so-called bottom-up processes give salient stimuli a stronger neuronal representation. For instance, nociceptive stimuli are intrinsically salient and capture attention. However, attentional capture may be influenced by so-called top-down processes. Top-down selection is determined by cognitive goals represented in working memory. Cognitive goals determine which stimuli are task relevant (attentional set). For instance, a nociceptive stimulus may be selected to prioritize a protective behaviour in response to pain perception at the expense of task performance. Conversely, pain perception can be inhibited by cognitive processes if task execution is prioritized. The balance between these bottom-up and top-down processes is critical for optimal behavioural performance, behavioural adaptation and even survival. In this proposal, we will investigate how stimulus saliency and cognitive functions alter the cerebral integration of concurrent nociceptive stimuli. To investigate our research questions, we will conduct experiments to examine spinal cord and brain activity evoked by electrical and laser stimuli that produce touch or pain sensation. Spinal cord activity will be measured with reflexes measured as muscle activity in the legs and brain activity will be measured as electrical signals recorded with electroencephalography. This research program will contribute to the understanding of spinal and cerebral mechanisms underlying nociceptive integration and responses. This is essential to better understand pain, motor reflexes and how stimulus saliency and cognition may affect these processes. This knowledge will provide solid bases to understand pain as an adaptive function of the nervous system in healthy individuals and in the long term may improve treatments to patients with chronic pain.

疼痛是一种由外周神经系统和中枢神经系统支持的感觉功能。这些包括伤害感受器、脊髓和大脑。痛觉和疼痛构成了一个警报系统，用来检测对身体组织的威胁，从而触发保护性的神经过程和行为。这些神经过程和行为对身体的完整性至关重要。伤害性刺激触发运动反射，如伤害性屈曲反射（NFR），它允许肢体的退缩。这种自动反应是由脊髓产生的，通常随后产生痛觉。反过来，疼痛触发由大脑协调并适应环境需求的行为反应。在这个提议中，我们将研究脊髓和大脑如何整合多种伤害性刺激来产生适应性的运动反射和大脑反应。