{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T10:12:52Z","timestamp":1780395172672,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,28]],"date-time":"2025-02-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740700800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Hum. Neurosci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Chronic pain is a prevalent yet often under-recognized symptom among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting 29\u201386% of the population. This condition can significantly impact the individuals' functionality, including their capacity to engage in professional activities. The pathophysiology underlying this condition remains intricate and not fully elucidated, and inadequate responses to pharmacological interventions or adverse effects can hinder its management. In light of these observations, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic interventions. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques hold promise for addressing MS-related pain. This mini-review aims to analyze the findings from studies using NIBS techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), to assess their analgesic potential in people with MS. Seven relevant reports are available. Five of these studies used tDCS, one utilized a transcranial random noise stimulation (tDCS variant), and one compared rTMS with transcranial theta burst stimulation (rTMS variant). The results indicate the potential benefits of NIBS for pain management in MS. However, the study's limitations, including the scarcity of data, small sample size, the limited number of sessions, sham design, and brief follow-up, are also noted and discussed. Finally, directions for future research are suggested.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2025.1552435","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,28]],"date-time":"2025-02-28T07:29:58Z","timestamp":1740727798000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Neurophysiological approaches for managing pain in multiple sclerosis: a mini review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Samar S.","family":"Ayache","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Moussa A.","family":"Chalah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"745","DOI":"10.31083\/j.jin2003079","article-title":"Neurofeedback therapy for the management of multiple sclerosis symptoms: current knowledge and future perspectives","volume":"20","author":"Ayache","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Integr. Neurosci."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"411","DOI":"10.2217\/nmt-2018-0028","article-title":"The place of transcranial direct current stimulation in the management of multiple sclerosis-related symptoms","volume":"8","author":"Ayache","year":"2018","journal-title":"Neurodegener. Dis. Manag."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1376095","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2024.1376095","article-title":"Neuroimaging and neuromodulation of invisible symptoms in multiple sclerosis","volume":"18","author":"Ayache","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Hum. Neurosci."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.3389\/fnins.2016.00147","article-title":"Prefrontal tDCS decreases pain in patients with multiple sclerosis","volume":"10","author":"Ayache","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front. Neurosci."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"jrm40188","DOI":"10.2340\/jrm.v56.40188","article-title":"Rehabilitation interventions for neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"56","author":"B\u00e4ckryd","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Rehabil. Med."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1809","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2014.01.010","article-title":"Within-session repeated a-tDCS: the effects of repetition rate and inter-stimulus interval on corticospinal excitability and motor performance","volume":"125","author":"Bastani","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. Neurophysiol."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1342","DOI":"10.1002\/jclp.23483","article-title":"Neuropathic pain, cognitive fusion, and alexithymia in patients with multiple sclerosis: cross-sectional evidence for an explanatory model of anxiety symptoms","volume":"79","author":"Carvalho","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"B8","first-page":"129","article-title":"Pain assessment: global use of the Brief Pain Inventory","volume":"23","author":"Cleeland","year":"1994","journal-title":"Ann. Acad. Med. Singap."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"668","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brs.2018.12.977","article-title":"Sham tDCS: a hidden source of variability? Reflections for further blinded, controlled trials","volume":"12","author":"Fonteneau","year":"2019","journal-title":"Brain Stimul."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S29","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2013.09.001","article-title":"Pain matrices and neuropathic pain matrices: a review","volume":"154","author":"Garcia-Larrea","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1510","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brs.2023.10.001","article-title":"Dosing transcranial magnetic stimulation in major depressive disorder: relations between number of treatment sessions and effectiveness in a large patient registry","volume":"16","author":"Hutton","year":"2023","journal-title":"Brain Stimul."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1016\/S0074-7742(07)79013-X","article-title":"Multiple sclerosis as a painful disease","volume":"79","author":"Kenner","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. Rev. Neurobiol."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"680","DOI":"10.1111\/ene.13877","article-title":"High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and intermittent theta-burst stimulation for spasticity management in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis","volume":"26","author":"Korzhova","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eur. J. Neurol."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"474","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2019.11.002","article-title":"Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): an update (2014-2018)","volume":"131","author":"Lefaucheur","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin. Neurophysiol."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2016.10.087","article-title":"Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)","volume":"128","author":"Lefaucheur","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin. Neurophysiol."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1079","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/awg102","article-title":"Keeping pain out of mind: the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in pain modulation","volume":"126","author":"Lorenz","year":"2003","journal-title":"Brain"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e61587","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.61587","article-title":"Neuropathic pain secondary to multiple sclerosis: a narrative review","volume":"16","author":"McBenedict","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1016\/0304-3959(75)90044-5","article-title":"The McGill Pain questionnaire: major properties and scoring methods","volume":"1","author":"Melzack","year":"1975","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brs.2019.09.017","article-title":"Cost of focality in TDCS: interindividual variability in electric fields","volume":"13","author":"Mikkonen","year":"2020","journal-title":"Brain Stimul."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpain.2009.08.011","article-title":"Effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on chronic neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis","volume":"11","author":"Mori","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Pain"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"699","DOI":"10.1038\/nrneurol.2011.138","article-title":"Invasive brain stimulation for the treatment of neuropathic pain","volume":"7","author":"Nguyen","year":"2011","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Neurol."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2007.08.024","article-title":"Pain associated with multiple sclerosis: systematic review and proposed classification","volume":"137","author":"O'Connor","year":"2008","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.3233\/RNN-150557","article-title":"Effects of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on affect, pain and attention in multiple sclerosis","volume":"34","author":"Palm","year":"2016","journal-title":"Restor. Neurol. Neurosci."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brs.2018.10.006","article-title":"Increased thalamic activity and less neuropathic pain after tDCS observed with PET in a patient with multiple sclerosis: a case report","volume":"12","author":"Rudroff","year":"2019","journal-title":"Brain Stimul."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1089\/brain.2016.0440","article-title":"Transcranial direct current stimulation targeting primary motor versus dorsolateral prefrontal cortices: proof-of-concept study investigating functional connectivity of thalamocortical networks specific to sensory-affective information processing","volume":"7","author":"Sankarasubramanian","year":"2017","journal-title":"Brain Connect."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105478","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2023.105478","article-title":"Interoceptive technologies for psychiatric interventions: from diagnosis to clinical applications","volume":"156","author":"Schoeller","year":"2024","journal-title":"Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nicl.2014.06.014","article-title":"Pain in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of neuroimaging studies","volume":"5","author":"Seixas","year":"2014","journal-title":"Neuroimage Clin."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1007\/s40263-024-01072-5","article-title":"Pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for the management of neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis","volume":"38","author":"Shkodina","year":"2024","journal-title":"CNS Drugs"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/j.medengphy.2020.09.015","article-title":"Transcranial direct current stimulation: a review of electrode characteristics and materials","volume":"85","author":"Solomons","year":"2020","journal-title":"Med. Eng. Phys."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.1037\/1040-3590.7.4.524","article-title":"The pain catastrophizing scale: development and validation","volume":"7","author":"Sullivan","year":"1995","journal-title":"Psychol. Assess."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1847","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinph.2014.01.020","article-title":"Does anodal transcranial direct current stimulation modulate sensory perception and pain? A meta-analysis study","volume":"125","author":"Vaseghi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Clin. Neurophysiol."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1097\/01376517-200804000-00007","article-title":"Invisible and visible symptoms of multiple sclerosis: which are more predictive of health distress?","volume":"40","author":"White","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Neurosci. Nurs."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brs.2019.09.012","article-title":"Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of a multiple sclerosis symptom cluster","volume":"13","author":"Workman","year":"2020","journal-title":"Brain Stimul."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3451","DOI":"10.1093\/pm\/pnaa128","article-title":"The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on chronic neuropathic pain in patients with multiple sclerosis: randomized controlled trial","volume":"21","author":"Young","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pain Med."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Human Neuroscience"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnhum.2025.1552435\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,28]],"date-time":"2025-02-28T07:30:00Z","timestamp":1740727800000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnhum.2025.1552435\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,28]]},"references-count":34,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fnhum.2025.1552435"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnhum.2025.1552435","relation":{},"ISSN":["1662-5161"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1662-5161","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,28]]},"article-number":"1552435"}}