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Temporal properties of pain contrast enhancement using repetitive stimulation
Author(s) -
Szikszay Tibor M.,
Adamczyk Waclaw M.,
Lévénez Juliette L. M.,
Gouverneur Philip,
Luedtke Kerstin
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/ejp.1971
Subject(s) - interstimulus interval , habituation , stimulation , psychology , summation , audiology , arousal , neuroscience , noxious stimulus , medicine , contrast (vision) , anesthesia , nociception , computer science , receptor , artificial intelligence
Background Offset analgesia (OA) is characterized by a disproportionately large reduction in pain following a small decrease in noxious stimulation and is based on temporal pain contrast enhancement (TPCE). The underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon are still poorly understood. This study is aiming to investigate whether TPCE can also be induced by repetitive stimulation, i.e., by stimuli clearly separated in time. Methods A repetitive TPCE paradigm was induced in healthy, pain‐free subjects ( n = 33) using heat stimuli. Three different interstimulus intervals (ISIs) were used: 5, 15, and 25 s. All paradigms were contrasted with a control paradigm without temperature change. Participants continuously rated perceived pain intensity. In addition, electrodermal activity (EDA) was recorded as a surrogate measure of autonomic arousal. Results Temporal pain contrast enhancement was confirmed for ISI 5 s ( p < 0.001) and ISI 15 s ( p = 0.005) but not for ISI 25 s ( p = 0.07), however, the magnitude of TPCE did not differ between ISIs ( p = 0.11). A TPCE‐like effect was also detected with increased EDA values. Conclusions TPCE can be induced by repetitive stimulation. This finding may be explained by a combination of the mechanisms underlying the OA and a facilitated pain habituation. Significance This experiment shows for the first time that temporal contrast enhancement of pain can be elicited by stimuli that are clearly separated in time with an interstimulus interval below 25 s.