Axonal Excitability Across Disciplines: Bridging Mechanism, Measurement and Meaning in Pain Research

Session Title: Axonal Excitability Across Disciplines: Bridging Mechanism, Measurement and Meaning in Pain Research

Topic: EXPERIMENTAL (NON-CLINICAL) HUMAN STUDIES

Description of Workshop: This workshop explores the mechanisms of peripheral nerve fiber excitability and their role in the development and maintenance of ongoing neuropathic pain. Bringing together experts from clinical, preclinical, and computational neuroscience, the event highlights cutting-edge methods and findings across disciplines. Topics include human and animal models, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, and computational simulations of nerve excitability. The workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration in the field of pain research. Attendees will not only gain insights into new approaches for diagnostic and stratifying tools but also in axonal excitability linked to ongoing pain due to small fiber neuropathy. Participants will explore how different approaches complement each other in understanding nerve excitability.

The workshop is ideal for researchers, clinicians, and students in neuroscience, pain medicine, and biomedical engineering.

The workshop comprises 4 speakers. Each speaker will deliver a concise 15-minute presentation, each followed by a 5 minute question session and time for round up discussion session at the end of the workshop.

Preclinical Assessments of Small Fiber Electrophysiology – Jim Dunham

This presentation introduces the use of peripheral multi-contact electrodes to measure small fiber function and dysfunction in rodent models. The technique enables single fiber resolution within multi fiber recordings, including direct quantification on ongoing nociceptor activity. Furthermore, on-electrode measurement of conduction velocity enables preliminary fiber classification, and differentiation between orthodromic and antidromic conduction. Recent efforts to translate this technology for human use will be described.

Microneurography: Decoding Human Pain and Itch at the Single-Fiber Level-Barbara Namer

This session highlights microneurography as a unique method for assessing axonal excitability in individual human nociceptors in vivo. We present recent insights into C-fiber excitability and their role in shaping pain and itch perception in health and neuropathic conditions. Emerging applications for patient stratification and diagnostic use, along with the necessary technical innovations and remaining challenges for clinical translation, will also be discussed.

Usability of Computational Models to Understand Axonal Excitability Alterations in Neuropathic Pain – Jenny Tigerholm.

Spontaneous activity of peripheral nerve endings has been identified as a possible biomarker for neuropathic pain. In this session, a novel computational model will be presented, developed to study the underlying mechanisms of spontaneous activity. In the dynamics of voltage-gated ion channels, stochastic noise has been added to generate cell membrane fluctuation. Furthermore, we will present how computational models can be used to design electrodes and excitability protocols to improve the assessment of the peripheral nerve endings’ excitability and thereby facilitate stratification of neuropathic pain patients.

Perception Threshold Tracking in Humans – Carsten Dahl Mørch

This session presents the use of the novel method ‘perception threshold tracking’ to assess small fiber excitability in healthy individuals and patients. The methodological advantages, e.g., non-invasiveness and ease-of-use, and limitations e.g., nerve fiber specificity and perception threshold estimation will be highlighted. Results from clinical applications in diabetes and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy will be presented.

Speakers