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Network model of the effects of spinal cord stimulation

Publication ,  Conference
Zhang, TC; Janik, JJ; Grill, WM
Published in: International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER
December 1, 2013

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an established treatment for chronic pain. However, SCS only provides 50% or greater pain relief to approximately 60% of patients, and the efficacy of SCS tends to decline over time. Efforts to optimize SCS have focused on the spatial aspects of SCS such as electrode design and electrode geometry while neglecting stimulation parameter selection and have assumed that the dorsal horn pain processing network is static. We developed a biophysical network model of the dorsal horn circuit capable of reproducing key electrophysiological data relevant to pain processing. Using this model, we simulated the effects of SCS applied at between 5 Hz and 150 Hz on the activity of projection neurons responsible for relaying pain signals to the brain. SCS at 30-100 Hz produced maximal inhibition of projection neuron activity. Furthermore, we quantified responses to SCS with diminished levels of inhibition in the dorsal horn to simulate the effect of disease progression. The degree to which projection neurons were inhibited by SCS declined as the strength of inhibitory mechanisms was reduced, and the optimal SCS frequency decreased to 15 Hz. Our simulation results suggest that the efficacy of SCS is dependent on stimulation frequency and that the loss of dorsal horn inhibition during chronic pain may explain the decline in SCS efficacy over time. These findings provide insights regarding the mechanisms of SCS and pave the way for improved SCS stimulation parameter selection. © 2013 IEEE.

Duke Scholars

Published In

International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER

DOI

EISSN

1948-3554

ISSN

1948-3546

ISBN

9781467319690

Publication Date

December 1, 2013

Start / End Page

1123 / 1126
 

Citation

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Zhang, T. C., Janik, J. J., & Grill, W. M. (2013). Network model of the effects of spinal cord stimulation. In International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER (pp. 1123–1126). https://doi.org/10.1109/NER.2013.6696135
Zhang, T. C., J. J. Janik, and W. M. Grill. “Network model of the effects of spinal cord stimulation.” In International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER, 1123–26, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1109/NER.2013.6696135.
Zhang TC, Janik JJ, Grill WM. Network model of the effects of spinal cord stimulation. In: International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER. 2013. p. 1123–6.
Zhang, T. C., et al. “Network model of the effects of spinal cord stimulation.” International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER, 2013, pp. 1123–26. Scopus, doi:10.1109/NER.2013.6696135.
Zhang TC, Janik JJ, Grill WM. Network model of the effects of spinal cord stimulation. International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER. 2013. p. 1123–1126.

Published In

International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, NER

DOI

EISSN

1948-3554

ISSN

1948-3546

ISBN

9781467319690

Publication Date

December 1, 2013

Start / End Page

1123 / 1126