Direct nerve measurement of mind body interaction
Supervisors: Dr Yoko Nagai, Dr A Dilley, Prof H Critchley, Dr J Eccles
Application deadline: Wednesday 31 July 2024 (UK Students Only)
About the Project
Mental and physical health depends on the way the brain and body intercommunicate, often unconsciously via the autonomic nervous system and interoceptive nerves. The dysautonomia describes when this goes wrong. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is a form of dysautonomia, a condition characterised by impaired function of the autonomic nervous system. It is associated with symptoms such as dizziness, especially when standing. Many individuals with PoTS also have fibromyalgia, which is a chronic widespread pain condition that causes significant disability and poor quality of life. Understanding the link between dysautonomia and pain is clinically important for the better management of symptoms. Excess bodily arousal from altered sympathetic nerve activity can increase interoceptive (body-to-brain) inputs, which may influence the pain experience and intensify pain. The modulation of pain by sympathetic nerve activity has not been examined in PoTS. Therefore, this PhD project will use a specialised technique called microneurography, which enables neuronal recordings direct from sympathetic nerves. The project examine the mechanisms of interaction between pain processing and autonomic dysregulation that may account for chronic widespread pain in individuals with PoTS. With support from the Autonomic Charitable Trust and input from expert collaborators, we will train the student in the skills necessary to perform microneurography, which will include training at Monash University, Australia.
The PhD will;
1) provide mechanistic insight into autonomic modulation of pain in PoTS and fibromyalgia.
2) determine whether peripheral autonomic modulation can be used to manage painful symptoms in individuals with PoTS.
Entry requirements
This studentship is suitable for those with background in neuroscience, physiology or another relevant subject area. We invite applications from students who have received or are on target to achieve a relevant undergraduate degree with minimum 2:1 classification (or equivalent). Previous experience in experimental research studies, ideally in humans, are desirable but not essential
How to apply
Applicants must apply through the University of Brighton application portal (StudentView, brighton.ac.uk) where they can submit a CV and complete the application form. The deadline for applications is 31 July 2024. Interviews will be held in June 2024. Informal enquiries are welcome and should be submitted to Professor Hugo Critchley h.critchley@bsms.ac.uk or Professor Andrew Dilley a.dilley@bsms.ac.uk.
Funding notes
This is a 3-year PhD studentship funded jointly by the Baroness Susan Masham Autonomic Charitable Trust Research Award and by Brighton and Sussex Medical School to start between July and October 2024. Funding covers tuition fees for UK students (at the Home rate), a stipend at the UKRI rate, and research running costs. International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees. The funding also supports and essential training component in the laboratory of Professor Vaughan Macefield, Baker Institute, Monash University Melbourne to which the capacity to travel is required.
Recommended reading
- Postural tachycardia syndrome--current experience and concepts. Mathias CJ et al Nat Rev Neurol. 2011 8:22-34.
- Sympathetic nerve activity in response to hypotensive stress in the postural tachycardia syndrome. Bonyhay I, Freeman R.Circulation. 2004 110:3193
- Hyperexcitable C nociceptors in fibromyalgia. Serra J, et al Ann Neurol 2014 75196- 208.
- Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a.k.a. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Type III and EhlersDanlos syndrome hypermobility type): Clinical description and natural history. Tinkle B, et al., Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2017 175:48-69.
- Joint hypermobility syndrome. Psychiatric manifestations. Eccles J, et al BMJ. 2011 342: d998.
- Baroreceptor activation attenuates attentional effects on pain-evoked potentials. Gray MA, et al., Pain. 2010 151:853-6.
- Sympathetic nervous system: contribution to chronic pain. Jänig W, Häbler HJ. Prog Brain Res. 2000; 129:451-68.
- Sympathetic microneurography. Macefield VG. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;117:353-64
- Physiological and pathophysiological firing properties of single postganglionic sympathetic neurons in humans. Macefield V, Wallin B. J Neurophysiol. 2018 119:944-56.
- Epileptic seizures are reduced by autonomic biofeedback therapy. Nagai Y et al., EBioMedicine. 2018 27:112-122.