| Popis: |
Neurophysiological responses related to the activation of thermal afferents have been widely studied. However, their brain function in humans responding to synaptic plasticity changes, which are thought to play a role in long-lasting second pain and heat hyperalgesia, remains obscure. Here, using a non-invasive method consisting of peripheral nerve stimulation, an experimental synaptic model, and combining them with brain imaging techniques, we investigate brain responses to the activation nociceptor afferents. For an experimental model, long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) of the spinothalamic tract are induced by low- and high-frequency electrical conditioning stimulation respectively, in a crossover design of 30 healthy participants. A matrix electrode of small punctual electrodes is applied to induce a high current density to the superficial layers of the skin, which favors electrical conditioning stimulation of C fibers and A-delta fibers. |
