Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients
Ziyi Gao,1 Xinyan Xie,1 Fuyuan Liu,2 Tong Xu,1 Nan Zhang,1 Xinran Zhang,1 Yun Li,1 Youyong Kong,2 Dongling Lv,3 Ting Wu1 1Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangsu Provincial Joint Inter-School of Computer Sc...
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Dove Medical Press
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pain Research |
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| author | Gao Z Xie X Liu F Xu T Zhang N Zhang X Li Y Kong Y Lv D Wu T |
| author_facet | Gao Z Xie X Liu F Xu T Zhang N Zhang X Li Y Kong Y Lv D Wu T |
| author_sort | Gao Z |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ziyi Gao,1 Xinyan Xie,1 Fuyuan Liu,2 Tong Xu,1 Nan Zhang,1 Xinran Zhang,1 Yun Li,1 Youyong Kong,2 Dongling Lv,3 Ting Wu1 1Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangsu Provincial Joint Inter-School of Computer Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ting Wu, Email fsyy00598@njucm.edu.cn Dongling Lv, Email lvdongling1226@163.comBackground: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a prevalent central chronic pain condition of unknown pathophysiology. White matter (WM) plays a crucial role in brain signal transmission, and WM structural abnormalities have been reported in FMS. However, functional WM changes in FMS patients have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether functional neural changes in WM accompany structural changes observed in FMS.Methods: The study included 43 FMS patients and 43 healthy controls. Structural and functional analyses of WM were assessed using fractional anisotropy (FA) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), respectively, to explore WM alterations in FMS patients.Results: Structural analysis revealed altered FA values in the left corticospinal tract (CST), right cingulate/hippocampus, right fornix/stria terminalis (FX/ST), superior occipitofrontal fasciculus (SOFF), right superior corona radiata (SCR), right posterior corona radiata (PCR), sagittal stratum, and left medial lemniscus (ML) in FMS patients. Some regions showing structural changes also showed changes in resting-state functional activation. Functional analysis showed that FMS patients have reduced ALFF values in the left CST, left ML, right PCR, right cingulate/hippocampus, and right FX/ST. Furthermore, the degree of ALFF reduction in the right cingulate/hippocampus and left ML was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and pain severity scores.Conclusion: This study provides a preliminary exploration of the mechanisms underlying FMS in terms of WM functional signals. The observed reduction in WM functional activation offers novel insights into the pathophysiology of FMS and highlights potential targets for WM-focused therapeutic strategies.Keywords: brain function, brain structure, fibromyalgia, white matter, ALFF |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3d53b5b0cd324e9499126c37d68c256e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1178-7090 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
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| series | Journal of Pain Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-3d53b5b0cd324e9499126c37d68c256e2025-08-20T03:30:49ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902025-07-01Volume 18Issue 133613370104470Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia PatientsGao Z0Xie X1Liu F2Xu T3Zhang N4Zhang X5Li Y6Kong Y7Lv D8Wu T9Department of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyJiangsu Provincial Joint Inter-School of Computer Science and EngineeringDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyDepartment of RadiologyJiangsu Provincial Joint Inter-School of Computer Science and EngineeringDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of RadiologyZiyi Gao,1 Xinyan Xie,1 Fuyuan Liu,2 Tong Xu,1 Nan Zhang,1 Xinran Zhang,1 Yun Li,1 Youyong Kong,2 Dongling Lv,3 Ting Wu1 1Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangsu Provincial Joint Inter-School of Computer Science and Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ting Wu, Email fsyy00598@njucm.edu.cn Dongling Lv, Email lvdongling1226@163.comBackground: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a prevalent central chronic pain condition of unknown pathophysiology. White matter (WM) plays a crucial role in brain signal transmission, and WM structural abnormalities have been reported in FMS. However, functional WM changes in FMS patients have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether functional neural changes in WM accompany structural changes observed in FMS.Methods: The study included 43 FMS patients and 43 healthy controls. Structural and functional analyses of WM were assessed using fractional anisotropy (FA) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), respectively, to explore WM alterations in FMS patients.Results: Structural analysis revealed altered FA values in the left corticospinal tract (CST), right cingulate/hippocampus, right fornix/stria terminalis (FX/ST), superior occipitofrontal fasciculus (SOFF), right superior corona radiata (SCR), right posterior corona radiata (PCR), sagittal stratum, and left medial lemniscus (ML) in FMS patients. Some regions showing structural changes also showed changes in resting-state functional activation. Functional analysis showed that FMS patients have reduced ALFF values in the left CST, left ML, right PCR, right cingulate/hippocampus, and right FX/ST. Furthermore, the degree of ALFF reduction in the right cingulate/hippocampus and left ML was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and pain severity scores.Conclusion: This study provides a preliminary exploration of the mechanisms underlying FMS in terms of WM functional signals. The observed reduction in WM functional activation offers novel insights into the pathophysiology of FMS and highlights potential targets for WM-focused therapeutic strategies.Keywords: brain function, brain structure, fibromyalgia, white matter, ALFFhttps://www.dovepress.com/combined-functional-and-structural-imaging-of-white-matter-reveals-bra-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRBrain FunctionBrain StuctureFibromyalgiaWhite MatterALFF. |
| spellingShingle | Gao Z Xie X Liu F Xu T Zhang N Zhang X Li Y Kong Y Lv D Wu T Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients Journal of Pain Research Brain Function Brain Stucture Fibromyalgia White Matter ALFF. |
| title | Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients |
| title_full | Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients |
| title_fullStr | Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients |
| title_short | Combined Functional and Structural Imaging of White Matter Reveals Brain Connectivity Alterations in Fibromyalgia Patients |
| title_sort | combined functional and structural imaging of white matter reveals brain connectivity alterations in fibromyalgia patients |
| topic | Brain Function Brain Stucture Fibromyalgia White Matter ALFF. |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/combined-functional-and-structural-imaging-of-white-matter-reveals-bra-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR |
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