A Perrotta1, M Bolla2, M G Anastasio3, M Serrao3, G Sandrini2, F Pierelli4. 1. IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy. Electronic address: arm.perrotta@gmail.com. 2. Department of Public Health and Neuroscience, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Headache Science Center, IRCCS National Neurological Institute C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy. 3. Unit of Neurorehabilitation, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, ICOT, Latina, Italy. 4. IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
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.
RCT Entities:
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.
Authors: Jamie L Rhudy; Felicitas A Huber; Tyler A Toledo; Parker A Kell; Erin N Street; Joanna O Shadlow Journal: Pain Date: 2022-05-01 Impact factor: 7.926
Authors: Yvette M Güereca; Parker A Kell; Bethany L Kuhn; Natalie Hellman; Cassandra A Sturycz; Tyler A Toledo; Felicitas A Huber; Mara Demuth; Edward W Lannon; Shreela Palit; Joanna O Shadlow; Jamie L Rhudy Journal: J Pain Date: 2022-01-10 Impact factor: 5.383