Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2025, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (7): 830-837.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2025.07.010

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Characteristics of electroencephalography in neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury

LI Qiaozhen, FENG Feng, DU Xia, SHAO Wen, GAO Mi, HUI Linna, YUAN Hua, SUN Xiaolong()   

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University of PLA (Xijing Hospital), Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
  • Received:2025-03-24 Revised:2025-05-02 Published:2025-07-25 Online:2025-07-30
  • Contact: SUN Xiaolong, E-mail: xlsun@fmmu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(82472593);National Natural Science Foundation of China(82272591);National Natural Science Foundation of China(82072534)

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the electroencephalography (EEG) signal characteristics in patients with neuropathic pain (NP) associated with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods A total of 90 patients with SCI from January, 2018 to November, 2023 were selected from the EEG database of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xijing Hospital, and divided into NP group (n = 46) and non-NP group (n = 44) according to their symptoms. The resting-state EEG power and reactivity to eye-opening were compared between two groups.

Results Compared with non-NP group, EEG power increased in frontal lobe in α and β1 bands, central lobe in δ, θ, α1 and β1 bands, parietal lobe in α and β1 bands, temporal lobe in α and β1 bands, left occipital lobe in α2 band, and occipital lobe in α1 and β1 bands (|Z| > 1.998, P < 0.05) in NP group during eye-opening; during eye-closing, EEG power increased in prefrontal lobe in α1 and β1 bands, right frontal lobe in θ band, frontal lobe in α and β1 bands, left frontal lobe in β2 band, central lobe in δ, α1 and β1 bands, parietal lobe in α1 and β1 bands, left parietal lobe in α2 and β2 bands, right temporal lobe in θ band, temporal lobe in α and β bands, occipital lobe in α1 and β1 bands, and left occipital lobe in β2 band (|Z| > 1.970, P < 0.05); while the reactivity to eye-opening decreased in right prefrontal lobe in β1 band, frontal lobe in θ, α and β bands, right central lobe in β1 band, parietal lobe in α1 and β1 bands, right parietal lobe in β2 band, right temporal lobe in δ and θ band, temporal lobe in α1 and β bands, left occipital lobe in α1 band, and occipital lobe in β1 (|Z| > 1.967, P < 0.05).

Conclusion Resting-state EEG power characteristically elevates in NP patients after SCI, and the reactivity to eye-opening reduces.

Key words: spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain, resting-state electroencephalography

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