Behavioural and neural correlates of visceral pain sensitivity in healthy men and women: does sex matter?

European Journal of Pain : EJP
Sven BensonSigrid Elsenbruch

Abstract

We assessed sex differences in behavioural and neural responses to rectal pain stimuli in healthy subjects. In age- and body mass index-matched healthy subjects (n = 15 men, 15 women), rectal sensory and pain thresholds were assessed with a pressure-controlled barostat device. The blood oxygen level-dependent response during cued anticipation and painful stimulation was measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Retrospective pain evaluations were accomplished with visual analogue scales. For fMRI data, region-of-interest (ROI) analyses and additional whole-brain analyses were carried out. There were no sex differences in rectal thresholds or pain ratings. ROI analyses revealed comparable distension-induced activation of the thalamus, somatosensory cortex, insula and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Only in additional whole-brain analyses did we find increased activation in women in DLPFC and middle temporal gyrus during pain anticipation and in the cerebellum and medial frontal gyrus during pain. A significant inverse association between rectal pain threshold and distension-induced activation in virtually all ROIs was found in women. In men, pain thresholds and insula activation were positively correla...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 9, 2013·American Journal of Physiology. Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology·Michiko KanoSteven J Coen
Jul 23, 2013·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Richard J Traub, Yaping Ji
Nov 4, 2015·Neurogastroenterology and Motility : the Official Journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society·J-Y HongE A Mayer
Jul 25, 2012·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Sven BensonSigrid Elsenbruch
Aug 21, 2015·Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics·Z MujagicA A M Masclee
Dec 23, 2015·Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility·Tine GregersenKlaus Krogh
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May 5, 2016·Gastroenterology·Lesley A HoughtonBrenda Toner
May 3, 2016·Neurogastroenterology and Motility : the Official Journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society·A RubioB Bonaz
Jun 14, 2019·Neurogastroenterology and Motility : the Official Journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society·Adriane IcenhourSven Benson
May 28, 2019·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·E R VelascoR Andero
Apr 6, 2021·Mayo Clinic Proceedings·Susrutha Puthanmadhom NarayananAdil E Bharucha

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