title: Brain activation induced by dentine hypersensitivity pain--an fMRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is characterized by a short, sharp pain arising from exposed dentin. Most published literature reports on peripheral neural aspects of this pain condition. The current investigation focused on differential cerebral activity elicited by stimulation of sensitive and insensitive teeth by means of natural air stimuli.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five graded stimulus strengths were randomly applied by means of a multi-injector air jet delivery system, each followed by an individual rating of perceived stimulus intensity. Brain activity was analysed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stimulation of sensitive teeth induced significant activation in the thalamus, somatosensory cortices (SI & SII), anterior, middle and posterior insular cortices, anterior mid cingulate cortex, perigenual anterior cingulate cortex and frontal regions (BA10 and BA46). Differential responses to DH and painless perceptions were observed in the anterior insula and anterior midcingulate cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time, this fMRI study demonstrates the feasibility of investigating cerebral processes related to DH evoked by natural (air) stimuli. Our neuroimaging data additionally provide evidence that differential activity in the anterior Insula (aIC) and anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) may represent clinically relevant pain experienced by DH patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Department of Neuropsychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. michael.meier@uzh.ch
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brügger
authors.forename: Dominik A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ettlin
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luechinger
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jäncke
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D003807:Dentin Sensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult