DACC Resting State Functional Connectivity as a Predictor of Pain Symptoms Following Motor Vehicle Crash: A Preliminary Investigation

Authors

Jacklynn M. Fitzgerald, Marquette UniversityFollow
Emily L. Belleau, Harvard Medical School
Lauren E. Ehret, Rogers Behavioral Health
Colleen Trevino, Medical College of Wisconsin
Karen J. Brasel, Oregon Health and Science University
Christine L. Larson, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Terri A deRoon-Cassini, Medical College of Wisconsin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2021

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Journal of Pain

Source ISSN

1526-5900

Abstract

There is significant heterogeneity in pain outcomes following motor vehicle crashes (MVCs), such that a sizeable portion of individuals develop symptoms of chronic pain months after injury while others recover. Despite variable outcomes, the pathogenesis of chronic pain is

currently unclear. Previous neuroimaging work implicates the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) in adaptive control of pain, while prior resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies find increased functional connectivity (FC) between the dACC and regions involved in pain processing in those with chronic pain. Hyper-connectivity of the dACC to regions that mediate pain response may therefore relate to pain severity. The present study completed rsfMRI scans on N=22 survivors of MVCs collected within two weeks of the incident to test whole-brain dACC-FC as a predictor of pain severity six months later. At two weeks, pain symptoms were predicted by positive connectivity between the dACC and the premotor cortex. Controlling for pain symptoms at two weeks, pain symptoms at six months were predicted by negative connectivity between the dACC and the precuneus. Previous research implicates the precuneus in the individual subjective awareness of pain. Given a relatively small sample size, approximately half of which did not experience chronic pain at six months, findings warrant replication. Nevertheless, this study provides preliminary evidence of enhanced dACC connectivity with motor regions and decreased connectivity with pain processing regions as immediate and prospective predictors of pain following MVC.

Perspective: This article presents evidence of distinct neural vulnerabilities that predict chronic pain in motor vehicle crash survivors based on whole-brain connectivity with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Pain, Vol. 22, No. 2 (February 2021): 171-179. DOI. © 2021 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Fitzgerald, Jacklynn M.; Belleau, Emily L.; Ehret, Lauren E.; Trevino, Colleen; Brasel, Karen J.; Larson, Christine L.; and deRoon-Cassini, Terri A, "DACC Resting State Functional Connectivity as a Predictor of Pain Symptoms Following Motor Vehicle Crash: A Preliminary Investigation" (2021). Psychology Faculty Research and Publications. 519.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/psych_fac/519