Abstract
Objective: Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) modulates spinal cord pain pathways. The study is aimed to clarify the neurophysiology of the tsDCS-induced modulation of the spinal cord pain processing by evaluating the effect of the tsDCS on temporal summation threshold (TST) of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR). Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study the effects of anodal, cathodal and sham tsDCS (2. mA, 15. min) applied on the skin overlying the thoracic spinal cord were investigated in 10 healthy subjects. Results: Anodal tsDCS induced a long-lasting (up to 60. min) increase in TST of the NWR as well as a parallel decrease in related psychophysical temporal summation of pain, while cathodal and sham tsDCS resulted ineffective. Conclusions: Anodal tsDCS represents a non-invasive tool able to induce an early and long-lasting depression of the transitory facilitation of the wide dynamic range neurons activity at the basis of both the temporal summation of the NWR and the related temporal summation of pain sensation. Significance: The modulation of the temporal processing of nociceptive stimuli could be effective in treating clinical pain conditions in which pain is generated by spinal cord structures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clinical Neurophysiology |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2015 |
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Keywords
- Nociceptive withdrawal reflex
- Temporal summation
- Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation
- Wide dynamic range neurons
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Neurology
- Physiology (medical)
- Sensory Systems
Cite this
Modulation of temporal summation threshold of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex by transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation in humans. / Perrotta, A.; Bolla, M.; Anastasio, M. G.; Serrao, M.; Sandrini, G.; Pierelli, F.
In: Clinical Neurophysiology, 2015.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Modulation of temporal summation threshold of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex by transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation in humans
AU - Perrotta, A.
AU - Bolla, M.
AU - Anastasio, M. G.
AU - Serrao, M.
AU - Sandrini, G.
AU - Pierelli, F.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Objective: Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) modulates spinal cord pain pathways. The study is aimed to clarify the neurophysiology of the tsDCS-induced modulation of the spinal cord pain processing by evaluating the effect of the tsDCS on temporal summation threshold (TST) of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR). Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study the effects of anodal, cathodal and sham tsDCS (2. mA, 15. min) applied on the skin overlying the thoracic spinal cord were investigated in 10 healthy subjects. Results: Anodal tsDCS induced a long-lasting (up to 60. min) increase in TST of the NWR as well as a parallel decrease in related psychophysical temporal summation of pain, while cathodal and sham tsDCS resulted ineffective. Conclusions: Anodal tsDCS represents a non-invasive tool able to induce an early and long-lasting depression of the transitory facilitation of the wide dynamic range neurons activity at the basis of both the temporal summation of the NWR and the related temporal summation of pain sensation. Significance: The modulation of the temporal processing of nociceptive stimuli could be effective in treating clinical pain conditions in which pain is generated by spinal cord structures.
AB - Objective: Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) modulates spinal cord pain pathways. The study is aimed to clarify the neurophysiology of the tsDCS-induced modulation of the spinal cord pain processing by evaluating the effect of the tsDCS on temporal summation threshold (TST) of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR). Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study the effects of anodal, cathodal and sham tsDCS (2. mA, 15. min) applied on the skin overlying the thoracic spinal cord were investigated in 10 healthy subjects. Results: Anodal tsDCS induced a long-lasting (up to 60. min) increase in TST of the NWR as well as a parallel decrease in related psychophysical temporal summation of pain, while cathodal and sham tsDCS resulted ineffective. Conclusions: Anodal tsDCS represents a non-invasive tool able to induce an early and long-lasting depression of the transitory facilitation of the wide dynamic range neurons activity at the basis of both the temporal summation of the NWR and the related temporal summation of pain sensation. Significance: The modulation of the temporal processing of nociceptive stimuli could be effective in treating clinical pain conditions in which pain is generated by spinal cord structures.
KW - Nociceptive withdrawal reflex
KW - Temporal summation
KW - Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation
KW - Wide dynamic range neurons
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924706007&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84924706007&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.031
DO - 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.01.031
M3 - Article
JO - Clinical Neurophysiology
JF - Clinical Neurophysiology
SN - 1388-2457
ER -