Frontocentral delta-beta amplitude coupling in endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain

Frances M. De Blasio, Sapphire Love, Robert J. Barry, Katherine Wassink, Adele E. Cave, Mike Armour, Genevieve Z. Steiner-Lim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: Endometriosis is associated with neuroplastic changes in cognitive control and pain processing networks. This was the first study to assess eyes-closed resting electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillatory amplitudes in women with endometriosis compared to healthy controls, and explore the relationship with chronic pelvic pain. Methods: Women with endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain and individually age-matched pain-free controls (N = 20 per group) documented pelvic pain for 28 days before having continuous EEG recorded during a 2 min eyes closed resting state. Natural frequency components were extracted for each group using frequency principal components analysis. Corresponding components were assessed for group differences and correlated with pain scores. Results: Relative to controls, the endometriosis group had greater component amplitudes in delta (0.5 Hz) and beta (∼28 Hz), and reduced alpha (∼10 Hz). Delta and beta amplitudes were positively associated with pain severity, but only beta maintained this association after delta-beta amplitude coupling was controlled. Conclusions: Enhanced resting delta and beta amplitudes were seen in women with endometriosis experiencing chronic pelvic pain. This delta-beta coupling varied with pelvic pain severity, perhaps reflecting altered cholinergic tone and/or stress reactivity. Significance: Endometriosis-related changes in central pain processing demonstrate a distinct neuronal oscillatory signature detectable at rest.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)146-156
Number of pages11
JournalClinical Neurophysiology
Volume149
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology

Keywords

  • Electroencephalography (EEG)
  • Eyes closed resting
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Endometriosis
  • Frequency principal components analysis (fPCA)

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