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Purpose <p>Chronic pain is a common consequence of stroke, often impairing survivors’ quality of life. By targeting cranial nerves and brainstem regions involved in pain modulation, cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM) offers a promising approach to pain relief. The aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility of using CN-NINM in people with chronic stroke and in healthy individuals, and to test the immediate effect of this modality on experimental pain.</p> Participants and methods <p>Thirteen adults with chronic stroke and 13 age-matched healthy adults were recruited for a single 20-min CN-NINM session, using a portable electrical tongue stimulator. The intensity of the stimulus was set by each participant at a comfortable sensation level. Feasibility was assessed in terms of recruitment, adherence, and adverse events. The effect of CN-NINM on pain was evaluated by a heat-induced thermal pain paradigm applied to the participant's forearm for 2&#xa0;min before and after the CN-NINM application. Pre- and post-CN-NINM pain intensity was recorded continuously during the nociceptive stimulation using a 0–100 computerized visual analogue scale. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used to describe feasibility data and explore CN-NINM effects.</p> Results <p>Feasibility was supported by a recruitment rate of 1.4 person/month for stroke and 2.2 person/month for healthy participants, with 100% of adherence in both groups. No CN-NINM-related adverse effects were reported. On average, CN-NINM had no clear immediate effect on pain in both stroke and healthy participants, with no difference observed between the two groups.</p> Conclusion <p>The present study offers evidence concerning the feasibility of using CN-NINM for relieving pain in stroke and healthy individuals. Although this new approach appears to be safe and acceptable for both populations, its effect on experimental pain remains questionable and unconvincing. Further studies are needed to ascertain if clinical pain can be positively impacted by CN-NINM.</p> Trial registration <p>This clinical trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05370274) on April 27, 2022.</p>

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Tasting pain-relief through tongue stimulation: results from a feasibility study looking into the use of cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation in healthy individuals and chronic poststroke patients

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月2日

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  • Maureen Ahiatsi,
  • Marie-Hélène Milot,
  • Aurélie Flaive,
  • Guillaume Léonard

摘要

Purpose

Chronic pain is a common consequence of stroke, often impairing survivors’ quality of life. By targeting cranial nerves and brainstem regions involved in pain modulation, cranial nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM) offers a promising approach to pain relief. The aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility of using CN-NINM in people with chronic stroke and in healthy individuals, and to test the immediate effect of this modality on experimental pain.

Participants and methods

Thirteen adults with chronic stroke and 13 age-matched healthy adults were recruited for a single 20-min CN-NINM session, using a portable electrical tongue stimulator. The intensity of the stimulus was set by each participant at a comfortable sensation level. Feasibility was assessed in terms of recruitment, adherence, and adverse events. The effect of CN-NINM on pain was evaluated by a heat-induced thermal pain paradigm applied to the participant's forearm for 2 min before and after the CN-NINM application. Pre- and post-CN-NINM pain intensity was recorded continuously during the nociceptive stimulation using a 0–100 computerized visual analogue scale. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used to describe feasibility data and explore CN-NINM effects.

Results

Feasibility was supported by a recruitment rate of 1.4 person/month for stroke and 2.2 person/month for healthy participants, with 100% of adherence in both groups. No CN-NINM-related adverse effects were reported. On average, CN-NINM had no clear immediate effect on pain in both stroke and healthy participants, with no difference observed between the two groups.

Conclusion

The present study offers evidence concerning the feasibility of using CN-NINM for relieving pain in stroke and healthy individuals. Although this new approach appears to be safe and acceptable for both populations, its effect on experimental pain remains questionable and unconvincing. Further studies are needed to ascertain if clinical pain can be positively impacted by CN-NINM.

Trial registration

This clinical trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05370274) on April 27, 2022.