Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research
BackgroundThis study explored the potential of electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) as psychophysiological markers in experimental pain research related to the gut-brain axis. We investigated responses to the experience of pain from the visceral (rectal distension) and somatic...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1502752/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850123796709638144 |
|---|---|
| author | Rossitza Draganova Genisius Hartanto Robert Jan Pawlik Jana Luisa Aulenkamp Jana Luisa Aulenkamp Sigrid Elsenbruch Sigrid Elsenbruch |
| author_facet | Rossitza Draganova Genisius Hartanto Robert Jan Pawlik Jana Luisa Aulenkamp Jana Luisa Aulenkamp Sigrid Elsenbruch Sigrid Elsenbruch |
| author_sort | Rossitza Draganova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThis study explored the potential of electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) as psychophysiological markers in experimental pain research related to the gut-brain axis. We investigated responses to the experience of pain from the visceral (rectal distension) and somatic (cutaneous heat) pain modalities, with a focus on elucidating sex differences in EGG and HRV responses.MethodsIn a sample of healthy volunteers (29 males, 43 females), EGG and ECG data were collected during a baseline and a pain phase. Data were analyzed for changes in gastric myoelectrical activity and cardiac autonomic regulation, with special attention to sex-specific patterns and correlations with perceptual responses to visceral and somatic pain stimuli, assessed by visual analogue scale ratings.ResultsAcute pain induced significant instability in EGG slow-wave frequency and amplitude, increased tachygastria, and decreased normogastric spectral power, without evidence of sex differences. HRV analyses revealed increases in SDNN, RMSSD, and pNN50 during pain, indicating sympathovagal regulation changes. While there were no significant sex differences in EGG responses, only female participants exhibited significant correlations between visceral pain unpleasantness and EGG alterations. HRV measures, particularly time-domain parameters, showed sex differences, independent of pain-induced autonomic reactivity.ConclusionThe experience of pain in the lower abdominal region may induce impaired gastric motility. EGG and HRV are sensitive to acute pain and offer insight into pain mechanisms along the gut-brain axis. While EGG responses were consistent across sexes, HRV revealed sex-specific differences, suggesting that autonomic regulation and gastric motility may be modulated differently by pain and psychosocial factors. Further research in patients with chronic visceral pain is warranted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4873e8ed5f44fa381af4f54d6f14fe6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4873e8ed5f44fa381af4f54d6f14fe62025-08-20T02:34:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2024-12-011810.3389/fnins.2024.15027521502752Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain researchRossitza Draganova0Genisius Hartanto1Robert Jan Pawlik2Jana Luisa Aulenkamp3Jana Luisa Aulenkamp4Sigrid Elsenbruch5Sigrid Elsenbruch6Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro-and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro-and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro-and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro-and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, GermanyBackgroundThis study explored the potential of electrogastrography (EGG) and heart rate variability (HRV) as psychophysiological markers in experimental pain research related to the gut-brain axis. We investigated responses to the experience of pain from the visceral (rectal distension) and somatic (cutaneous heat) pain modalities, with a focus on elucidating sex differences in EGG and HRV responses.MethodsIn a sample of healthy volunteers (29 males, 43 females), EGG and ECG data were collected during a baseline and a pain phase. Data were analyzed for changes in gastric myoelectrical activity and cardiac autonomic regulation, with special attention to sex-specific patterns and correlations with perceptual responses to visceral and somatic pain stimuli, assessed by visual analogue scale ratings.ResultsAcute pain induced significant instability in EGG slow-wave frequency and amplitude, increased tachygastria, and decreased normogastric spectral power, without evidence of sex differences. HRV analyses revealed increases in SDNN, RMSSD, and pNN50 during pain, indicating sympathovagal regulation changes. While there were no significant sex differences in EGG responses, only female participants exhibited significant correlations between visceral pain unpleasantness and EGG alterations. HRV measures, particularly time-domain parameters, showed sex differences, independent of pain-induced autonomic reactivity.ConclusionThe experience of pain in the lower abdominal region may induce impaired gastric motility. EGG and HRV are sensitive to acute pain and offer insight into pain mechanisms along the gut-brain axis. While EGG responses were consistent across sexes, HRV revealed sex-specific differences, suggesting that autonomic regulation and gastric motility may be modulated differently by pain and psychosocial factors. Further research in patients with chronic visceral pain is warranted.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1502752/fullsex differencesvisceral paingut-brain axiselectrogastrographyheart rate variabilitypsychophysiology |
| spellingShingle | Rossitza Draganova Genisius Hartanto Robert Jan Pawlik Jana Luisa Aulenkamp Jana Luisa Aulenkamp Sigrid Elsenbruch Sigrid Elsenbruch Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research Frontiers in Neuroscience sex differences visceral pain gut-brain axis electrogastrography heart rate variability psychophysiology |
| title | Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research |
| title_full | Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research |
| title_fullStr | Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research |
| title_short | Sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research |
| title_sort | sex differences in the reactivity of gastric myoelectrical activity and heart rate variability as putative psychophysiological markers in human pain research |
| topic | sex differences visceral pain gut-brain axis electrogastrography heart rate variability psychophysiology |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1502752/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rossitzadraganova sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch AT genisiushartanto sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch AT robertjanpawlik sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch AT janaluisaaulenkamp sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch AT janaluisaaulenkamp sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch AT sigridelsenbruch sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch AT sigridelsenbruch sexdifferencesinthereactivityofgastricmyoelectricalactivityandheartratevariabilityasputativepsychophysiologicalmarkersinhumanpainresearch |