Apr 17, 2026
Deep Learning Identification of Distinct EEG Signatures of Recent vs. Established Chronicity in Fibromyalgia
- Dr. Jean-Marie Amodeo1
- 1BrainPain-Track
Protocol Citation: Dr. Jean-Marie Amodeo 2026. Deep Learning Identification of Distinct EEG Signatures of Recent vs. Established Chronicity in Fibromyalgia. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.6qpvrbnd2lmk/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: In development
We are still developing and optimizing this protocol
Created: April 16, 2026
Last Modified: April 17, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 315158
Keywords: fibromyalgia eeg virtual reality, fibromyalgia identify eeg biomarker, deep learning identification of distinct eeg signature, chronic pain, evaluate vr neurofeedback, deep learning identification, characterize eeg signature, deep learning, distinct eeg signature, chronicity, build predictive lstm model, established chronicity, predictive lstm model, measure vr reactivity, tipping point of chronicity
Abstract
Identify EEG biomarkers distinguishing
recent, established, and no chronic pain.
Secondary:
- Characterize EEG signatures
- Measure VR reactivity
- Build predictive LSTM model
- Identify tipping point of chronicity
- Evaluate VR neurofeedback
- Build open-access dataset
Guidelines
This protocol should be conducted strictly
in accordance with the BrainPain-Track study design, applicable institutional
regulations, and national/international research standards. All personnel
involved in data collection must be trained in EEG acquisition, VR protocol
administration, and the handling of sensitive neurological data. Deviations
from the protocol must be documented and reported to the principal investigator
(Dr. Jean-Marie Amodeo) and the relevant ethics committee. Data should be
stored securely, anonymized, and managed in compliance with GDPR and applicable
data protection legislation. Open-access dataset contributions must follow the
agreed data-sharing agreement prior to publication.
Safety warnings
Warnings
HAZARD — VR Exposure: Virtual reality
stimulation may trigger motion sickness, dizziness, nausea, or disorientation
in some participants. Monitor all participants throughout VR sessions and
discontinue immediately if adverse symptoms are reported. Do not administer VR
modules to individuals with a history of epilepsy or photosensitive seizure
disorders without prior medical clearance.
HAZARD — Participant Vulnerability:
Fibromyalgia participants are a vulnerable population experiencing chronic pain
and potential psychological distress. Experimenters must be trained in
participant welfare monitoring. A qualified clinician or trained research nurse
must be available during all experimental sessions.
DATA SAFETY: All neurological and
clinical data are classified as sensitive health data. Unauthorized access,
sharing, or storage outside the approved secure systems is strictly prohibited
and constitutes a breach of ethics approval conditions.protocols with human subjects require informed consent prior and approval by the users' Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee(s).
Ethics statement
Ethics Statement
All experimental procedures involving human
participants have been designed and must be conducted in accordance with the
Declaration of Helsinki and applicable national regulations governing human
subjects research. Prior ethics approval must be obtained from the relevant
Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee before any
participant is enrolled or any data is collected.
Written informed consent must be obtained from all
participants prior to inclusion. For the multicenter component, each
participating site must hold independent local ethics approval in addition to
the central approval
protocols with human subjects require informed consent prior and approval by the users' Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee(s).
Before start
Before beginning any experimental session,
ensure the following preparations are complete: (1) Confirm ethics approval is
in place and all relevant permits are on file. (2) Verify that the EEG
equipment (64-channel system) is calibrated and the SSA-ICA preprocessing
pipeline is operational. (3) Ensure the VR headset and both modules (Sensory
Immersion and Neurofeedback) are fully tested and functioning. (4) Screen all
participants for eligibility criteria, including exclusion of neurological or
psychiatric comorbidities, and confirm signed informed consent has been
obtained. (5) Confirm that baseline clinical assessments (pain scales,
questionnaires) have been completed prior to T0 EEG recording. (6) Ensure the
data anonymization and secure upload procedures are in place before any
participant data is recorded.
Background and Scientific Rationale
Chronic pain affects approximately 25% of adults in developed countries and is one of the leading causes of disability and reduced quality of life. Fibromyalgia affects 2–4% of the population and remains difficult to diagnose and treat due to lack of objective biomarkers.
Fibromyalgia is associated with increased theta power, decreased alpha–beta power, and hyperconnectivity in salience and Default Mode Networks.
Current studies ignore the temporal dimension of chronicity and rely on resting-state EEG only.
VR enables controlled sensory stimulation to measure dynamic brain responses and plasticity.
Established chronicity is identifiable via static EEG and dynamic VR EEG signatures.