Weiwei Peng
Prof, PhD
Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
CHINA
Session 3 · DAY 1 (Nov. 5, 2026) · 11:15–11:45 CET
Targeting Brain Rhythms for Pain Relief: Strategies and Mechanisms
Abstract
Pain is not only a sensory signal but also a dynamic brain state shaped by attention, expectation, and cortical excitability. In this talk, I will introduce our recent work on targeting brain rhythms for pain relief, with a particular focus on alpha oscillations in the somatosensory cortex. I will first discuss how transcranial alternating current stimulation can be used to modulate sensorimotor alpha activity and examine its effects on pain anticipation and pain perception.
I will then present our neurofeedback studies in which participants learned to regulate somatosensory alpha rhythms, leading to changes in pain experience and pain-related neural dynamics. By comparing externally driven stimulation and self-regulated neurofeedback, the talk will highlight how rhythm-based neuromodulation may contribute to pain relief through changes in cortical excitability, preparatory brain states, and pain-related information processing.
These findings provide a mechanistic framework for developing more precise, individualized, and closed-loop neuromodulation strategies for pain management.
Learning Objectives
- To understand the role of somatosensory alpha oscillations in pain anticipation and pain perception.
- To learn how transcranial alternating current stimulation and neurofeedback can be used to target pain-related brain rhythms.
- To discuss how rhythm-based neuromodulation may inform future individualized and closed-loop approaches to pain relief.
Biography
Weiwei Peng is a Professor and PhD supervisor at the School of Psychology, Shenzhen University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering from Tianjin University in 2010 and her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Hong Kong in 2015. Her research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms of pain and pain-related neuromodulation.
She has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers as first or corresponding author in journals including PLoS Biology, Pain, Brain Stimulation, and Psychological Medicine. She has led multiple national and provincial research projects and received several scientific awards for her work in pain neuroscience and neurotechnology.