The immediate effect of anodal tDCS over the motor cortex on postural control and cortical activation in patients with chronic low back pain: A preliminary study

IF 2.3 3区心理学 Q2 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Behavioural Brain Research Pub Date : 2025-09-15 DOI:10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115827

Yan Li , Hao Xie , Jiahui Peng , Zhaoqiang Xu , Ruochen Fu , Xue Cheng , Jiajia Yang , Qiuhua Yu , Haoyu Xie , Xueqiang Wang , Chuhuai Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Impaired postural control, attributed to abnormal function of motor-related cortices, has been proven as one of the potential mechanisms of chronic low back pain (CLBP). Based on available evidence, anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary motor cortex (M1-tDCS) can significantly enhance cortical activation and improve postural control. However, the neuromechanism underlying the effect of anodal M1-tDCS on patients with CLBP remains unclear.

Methods

Twenty-six participants with CLBP were randomly assigned to the active tDCS group or sham group. A 20-minute session of anodal M1-tDCS or sham intervention was applied. Before and after the intervention, postural control performance and cortical activity during unipedal standing were assessed by center of pressure displacement and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), respectively. Regions of interest (ROIs) included bilateral primary motor cortex (M1), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), frontopolar area (FpA), and supplementary motor area (SMA). Functional connectivity (FC) among these ROIs was also analyzed.

Results

Significant interactions (Group × Time) were observed in anterior-posterior (AP) velocity, sway length, left M1 activation, and FC between left M1 and right DLPFC, as well as between the left M1 and bilateral FpA (ps<0.05). Post-hoc comparisons demonstrated that AP velocity and sway length significantly decreased after the anodal M1-tDCS intervention (p_FDR<0.001, effect size (d)= 2.060). Additionally, participants in the active tDCS group exhibited significantly reduced left M1 activation (p_FDR<0.001, d=1.894), FC between the left M1 and right DLPFC (p_FDR=0.008, d=1.420), and FC between the left M1 and bilateral FpA (left: p_FDR=0.006, d=1.461; right: p_FDR=0.027, d=1.227) after the intervention.

Conclusion

The improvement in postural control of patients with CLBP following anodal M1-tDCS, accompanied by reduced cortical activation and functional connectivity, suggests enhanced neural efficiency (more efficient neural processing) and reduced compensatory demands within sensorimotor networks.

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在慢性腰痛患者的运动皮质上进行阳极tDCS对姿势控制和皮质激活的直接影响：初步研究。

背景：由运动相关皮质功能异常引起的姿势控制障碍已被证明是慢性腰痛（CLBP）的潜在机制之一。根据现有证据，经颅阳极直流电刺激初级运动皮层（M1-tDCS）可以显著增强皮层激活并改善姿势控制。然而，淋巴结M1-tDCS对CLBP患者影响的神经机制尚不清楚。方法：将26例CLBP患者随机分为活跃tDCS组和假手术组。进行20分钟的淋巴结M1-tDCS或假干预。干预前后分别采用压力位移中心和功能近红外光谱（fNIRS）评估单足站立时的姿势控制能力和皮质活动。感兴趣的区域包括双侧初级运动皮层（M1）、背外侧前额叶皮层（DLPFC）、额极区（FpA）和辅助运动区（SMA）。分析了这些roi之间的功能连通性（FC）。结果：干预后，前后（AP）速度、摆动长度、左M1激活、左M1与右DLPFC之间、左M1与双侧FpA之间的FC （psFDRFDRFDR=0.008, d=1.420）、左M1与双侧FpA之间的FC（左：pFDR=0.006, d=1.461；右：pFDR=0.027, d=1.227）均存在显著相互作用（组×时间）。结论：淋巴结M1-tDCS后CLBP患者姿势控制的改善，伴随着皮质激活和功能连接的减少，表明神经效率提高（更有效的神经处理）和感觉运动网络内代偿需求减少。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Behavioural Brain Research 医学-行为科学

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

383

审稿时长

61 days

期刊介绍： Behavioural Brain Research is an international, interdisciplinary journal dedicated to the publication of articles in the field of behavioural neuroscience, broadly defined. Contributions from the entire range of disciplines that comprise the neurosciences, behavioural sciences or cognitive sciences are appropriate, as long as the goal is to delineate the neural mechanisms underlying behaviour. Thus, studies may range from neurophysiological, neuroanatomical, neurochemical or neuropharmacological analysis of brain-behaviour relations, including the use of molecular genetic or behavioural genetic approaches, to studies that involve the use of brain imaging techniques, to neuroethological studies. Reports of original research, of major methodological advances, or of novel conceptual approaches are all encouraged. The journal will also consider critical reviews on selected topics.