Theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling in the dynamic pain connectome in healthy individuals and abnormalities in people with chronic pain
The experience of pain arises through the integration of information across brain regions and networks. Theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) reflects interactions between neuronal processes in the brain. We analyzed a previously published dataset to identify PAC of intrinsic brain activity in nociceptive processing/modulation regions and found sex-specific disruptions in people with chronic pain. This study implicates theta-gamma PAC as a means to shape nociception and PAC failures as a possible mechanistic contributor to chronic pain.
Authors
- Benjamin T. Dunkley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6173-1171)
- Joshua C. Cheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4305-4792)
- Natalie R. Osborne
- Robert D. Inman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4750-1422)
- Rachel L. Bosma
- Anton Rogachov
- Karen Deborah Davis
- Rima El-Sayed
- Kasey Sarah. Hemington
- Ariana Seyed Makki
Institutions
- University Health Network (CA)
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital (GB)
- Hospital for Sick Children (CA)
- Health Net (US)
- SickKids Foundation (CA)
- University College London (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Neurophysiology
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00492.2025
- Primary Topic
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- MAYDAY Fund
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research