OBJECTIVE To investigate the differences in neural patterns between spinal cord stimulation (SCS) waveforms (60-Hz tonic vs 10-KHz high frequency stimulation, HFS) and their correlation to stimulation-induced pain relief. METHODS We recorded 10-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) in response to stimulation ON and OFF in 9 chronic pain patients (4 women, 5 men) during SCS surgery and examined the intraoperative spatio-spectral EEG features. RESULTS We discovered stronger relative alpha power in the somatosensory region and higher trend in alpha/theta peak power ratio in frontal cortex with HFS. We also observed a shift in peak frequency from theta to alpha rhythms in HFS as compared to baseline and tonic stimulation, where slower theta activity was maintained. Further, a positive correlation was found between changes in Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores (from preoperative to postoperative) and HFS-induced alpha/theta peak power ratio in frontal and somatosensory regions. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our findings suggest that dynamic spectral interactions in theta-alpha band and their spatial distributions might be the first intraoperative neural signatures of pain relief induced by HFS in chronic pain. SIGNIFICANCE Examining electrophysiological changes intraoperatively has a potential to elucidate response to SCS therapy prior to device selection, reducing the healthcare expenditures associated with failed implants.

中文翻译：

---

慢性疼痛患者强直和高频脊髓刺激脑电图模式的差异

目的 研究脊髓刺激 (SCS) 波形（60-Hz 强直与 10-KHz 高频刺激，HFS）之间神经模式的差异及其与刺激引起的疼痛缓解的相关性。方法 我们记录了 9 名慢性疼痛患者（4 名女性，5 名男性）在 SCS 手术期间响应于刺激开启和关闭的 10 通道脑电图 (EEG)，并检查了术中空间频谱 EEG 特征。结果我们发现体感区域的相对α功率更强，HFS额叶皮层的α/θ峰值功率比有更高的趋势。我们还观察到与基线和强直刺激相比，HFS 中峰值频率从 theta 节律转变为 alpha 节律，其中维持较慢的 theta 活动。更多，发现 Oswestry 残疾指数 (ODI) 评分的变化（从术前到术后）与 HFS 诱导的额叶和体感区域的 α/θ 峰值功率比之间存在正相关。结论 总而言之，我们的研究结果表明，θ-α 波段中的动态光谱相互作用及其空间分布可能是 HFS 在慢性疼痛中引起的疼痛缓解的第一个术中神经特征。意义 在术中检查电生理变化有可能在设备选择之前阐明对 SCS 治疗的反应，减少与失败植入物相关的医疗保健支出。我们的研究结果表明，theta-alpha 波段中的动态光谱相互作用及其空间分布可能是 HFS 在慢性疼痛中引起的疼痛缓解的第一个术中神经特征。意义 在术中检查电生理变化有可能在设备选择之前阐明对 SCS 治疗的反应，减少与失败植入物相关的医疗保健支出。我们的研究结果表明，theta-alpha 波段中的动态光谱相互作用及其空间分布可能是 HFS 在慢性疼痛中引起的疼痛缓解的第一个术中神经特征。意义 在术中检查电生理变化有可能在设备选择之前阐明对 SCS 治疗的反应，减少与失败植入物相关的医疗保健支出。