Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39089647›Full record

ArticleBrain stimulation

Low-intensity focused ultrasound to the posterior insula reduces temporal summation of pain.

Alexander In, Andrew Strohman, Brighton Payne, Wynn Legon

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain stimulation. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07518927 (Mapping Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound), which is not on this map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07518927 naenrolling by invitationnot on this map

Mapping Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU)-Evoked Brain Network Responses Using Intracranial Electrophysiological Recordings

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of PennsylvaniaRan2026 to 2031Enrolled30ConditionsLow Intensity Focussed Ultrasound, Electrodes, ImplantedArmsLow Intensity Focused Ultrasound
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  5. Caudal Granular Insular Cortex to Somatosensory Cortex I: A Critical Pathway for the Transition of Acute to Chronic Pain.The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Alexander InVirginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA.
Andrew StrohmanFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA.
Brighton PayneFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA.
Wynn LegonFralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Center for Human Neuroscience Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Center for Health Behaviors Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; School of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24016, USA; Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA, 24016, USA. Electronic address: wlegon@vt.edu.

Funding

High resolution interrogation of the insula in mechanisms of chronic painR21AT012247 · NCCIH · VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND ST UNIV · PI LEGON, WYNN · 2023 to 2024
$466k
NCCIH NIH HHS R21 AT012247
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) are core brain regions involved in pain processing and central sensitization, a shared mechanism across various chronic pain conditions. Methods to modulate these regions may serve to reduce central sensitization, though it is unclear which target may be most efficacious for different measures of central sensitization. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: Investigate the effect of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to the anterior insula (AI), posterior insula (PI), or dACC on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and temporal summation of pain (TSP).

methodsN = 16 volunteers underwent TSP and CPM pain tasks pre/post a 10 min LIFU intervention to either the AI, PI, dACC or Sham stimulation. Pain ratings were collected pre/post LIFU.

resultsOnly LIFU to the PI significantly attenuated pain ratings during the TSP protocol. No effects were found for the CPM task for any of the LIFU targets. LIFU pressure modulated group means but did not affect overall group differences.

conclusionsLIFU to the PI reduced temporal summation of pain. This may, in part, be due to dosing (pressure) of LIFU. Inhibition of the PI with LIFU may be a future potential therapy in chronic pain populations demonstrating central sensitization. The minimal effective dose of LIFU for efficacious neuromodulation will help to translate LIFU for therapeutic options.

Indexed as

Insular CortexAdultCerebral CortexFemaleHumansMalePainPain ManagementPain MeasurementUltrasonic TherapyYoung AdultCentral sensitizationDorsal anterior cingulate cortexDosingHumanInsulaLow-intensity focused ultrasoundPain

Identifiers

PMID39089647
PMCPMC11452899

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.