TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrical Nerve Stimulation Induces Synaptic Plasticity in the Brain and the Spinal Cord
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - Beltrá, Patricia
AU - Viudes-Sarrión, Nuria
AU - Giner, María José
AU - Tomás-Muñoz, Emilio
AU - Pérez-Cervera, Laura
AU - Martín-San Agustín, Rodrigo
AU - Ortega, Francisco Javier
AU - Valdesuso, Raúl
AU - Suso-Martí, Luis
AU - Binshtok, Alexander
AU - Delicado-Miralles, Miguel
AU - Velasco, Enrique
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 International Neuromodulation Society
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Objectives: This review aimed to compile the literature on synaptic plasticity induced by electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) in nociceptive and somatosensory circuits within the central nervous system, with a particular focus on its effects on both the brain and spinal cord. Understanding the mechanisms underlying synaptic changes, enhances our comprehension of how ENS contributes to both pain relief and the development of experimental pain models. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, SciELO, and Cochrane databases, adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, and evaluated the quality of evidence using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. The inclusion criteria were application of ENS to peripheral nerves, reporting of a detailed methodology, providing direct physiological measurements of synaptic activity (eg, field potentials or intracellular recordings), and publication in English or Spanish. From 8094 results, 85 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: ENS was found to induce synaptic potentiation in 70 studies, depression in 7, and both effects in 8. These outcomes were determined by specific stimulation parameters and individual characteristics, with distinct molecular mechanisms involved in each case. Notably, most research focused on long-term potentiation in nociceptive pathways to create experimental pain models, with most studies conducted in the spinal cord. Few studies explored the link between ENS-induced synaptic plasticity and its analgesic effects or the role of plasticity in supraspinal brain regions, suggesting promising areas for future research. Conclusions: ENS-induced synaptic plasticity presents a valuable opportunity for both pain management and the development of experimental pain models. Further research is needed to explore the connections between plasticity, analgesia, and higher brain regions.
AB - Objectives: This review aimed to compile the literature on synaptic plasticity induced by electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) in nociceptive and somatosensory circuits within the central nervous system, with a particular focus on its effects on both the brain and spinal cord. Understanding the mechanisms underlying synaptic changes, enhances our comprehension of how ENS contributes to both pain relief and the development of experimental pain models. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, PEDro, SciELO, and Cochrane databases, adhering to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, and evaluated the quality of evidence using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. The inclusion criteria were application of ENS to peripheral nerves, reporting of a detailed methodology, providing direct physiological measurements of synaptic activity (eg, field potentials or intracellular recordings), and publication in English or Spanish. From 8094 results, 85 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: ENS was found to induce synaptic potentiation in 70 studies, depression in 7, and both effects in 8. These outcomes were determined by specific stimulation parameters and individual characteristics, with distinct molecular mechanisms involved in each case. Notably, most research focused on long-term potentiation in nociceptive pathways to create experimental pain models, with most studies conducted in the spinal cord. Few studies explored the link between ENS-induced synaptic plasticity and its analgesic effects or the role of plasticity in supraspinal brain regions, suggesting promising areas for future research. Conclusions: ENS-induced synaptic plasticity presents a valuable opportunity for both pain management and the development of experimental pain models. Further research is needed to explore the connections between plasticity, analgesia, and higher brain regions.
KW - Analgesia
KW - electrical nerve stimulation
KW - nociceptive pathway
KW - pain
KW - synaptic plasticity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105002156640&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neurom.2025.02.008
DO - 10.1016/j.neurom.2025.02.008
M3 - مقالة مرجعية
C2 - 40196976
SN - 1094-7159
JO - Neuromodulation
JF - Neuromodulation
ER -