IMR Press / JIN / Volume 23 / Issue 1 / DOI: 10.31083/j.jin2301010
Open Access Original Research
Subclinical Neck Pain Leads to Differential Changes in Early Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Response to a Novel Force Matching Tracking Task
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1 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (Ontario Tech University), Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
*Correspondence: bernadette.murphy@ontariotechu.ca (Bernadette Murphy)
J. Integr. Neurosci. 2024, 23(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2301010
Submitted: 24 July 2023 | Revised: 15 September 2023 | Accepted: 26 September 2023 | Published: 15 January 2024
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: Neural adaptions in response to sensorimotor tasks are impaired in those with untreated, recurrent mild-to-moderate neck pain (subclinical neck pain (SCNP)), due to disordered central processing of afferent information (e.g., proprioception). Neural adaption to force modulation, a sensorimotor skill reliant on accurate proprioception, is likely to be impaired in those with SCNP. This study examined changes in somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) peak amplitudes following the acquisition of a novel force matching tracking task (FMTT) in those with SCNP compared to non-SCNP. Methods: 40 (20 female (F) & 20 male (M); average age (standard deviation, SD): 21.6 (3.01)) right-handed participants received controlled electrical stimulation at 2.47 Hz and 4.98 Hz (averaged 1000 sweeps/frequency) over the right-median nerve, to elicit SEPs before and after FMTT acquisition. Participants used their right thumb to match a series of force profiles that were calibrated to their right thumb (abductor pollicis brevis muscle) strength. To determine if motor learning was impacted, retention was assessed 24 to 48 hours later. Outliers were removed before running independent t-tests on normalized SEP peak amplitudes, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with planned contrasts on absolute and normalized motor performance accuracy. Benjamini-hochberg test was used to correct for multiple independent SEP comparisons. Results: SEP peaks: N18 (t(29.058) = 2.031, p = 0.026), N20 (t(35) = –5.460, p < 0.001), and P25 (t(33) = –2.857, p = 0.004) had group differences. Motor performance: Absolute error (n = 38) had a main effect of time, and significant pre-and post-acquisition contrast for time (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Group differences in the olivary-cerebellar pathway (N18), and cortical processing at the somatosensory cortex (N20 and P25), suggests that SCNP alters cortical and cerebellar processing compared to non-SCNP in response to FMTT acquisition. The sensory-motor integration differences in the SCNP group suggests that those with SCNP may rely more on feedback loops for discrete sensorimotor tasks dependent on proprioception. Early SEP changes may be used as a marker for altered neuroplasticity in the context of motor skill acquisition of a novel discrete FMTT in those with SCNP.

Keywords
neck dysfunction
cerebellar processing
cortical processing
sensorimotor integration
motor performance
somatosensory evoked potentials
Funding
RGPIN-2022-04777/Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant program
LG2017-5/Australian Spinal Research Foundation (ASRF)
2019-3/NCMIC Foundation
Figures
Fig. 1.
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