Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary motor cortex attenuates capsaicin-induced dynamic mechanical allodynia and mechanical pain sensitivity in humans.
File(s)
Published version
OA Location
Author(s)
Hughes, SW
Ward, G
Strutton, PH
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary cortex has been shown to activate regions of the brain involved in the descending modulation of pain sensitivity. However, more research is required in order to dissect the spinal cord analgesic mechanisms associated with the development of central sensitisation. METHODS: In this randomised, double blind, cross over study 12 healthy participants had baseline mechanical stimulus response (S/R) functions measured before and after the development of capsaicin-induced ongoing pain sensitivity. The effects of 20 min of either real or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS, 2 mA) over the primary motor cortex on dynamic mechanical allodynia (DMA) and mechanical pain sensitivity (MPS) was then investigated. RESULTS: Topical application of capsaicin resulted in an increase in area under the pain ratings curve for both DMA (p < .01) and MPS (p < .01). The effects of tDCS on the area under the curve ratio (i.e. post/pre-treatment) revealed significant analgesic effects over DMA (p < .05) and MPS (p < .05) when compared to sham. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex can reduce both dynamic and static forms of mechanical pain sensitivity associated with the development of DMA and MPS, respectively. The use of tDCS may provide a novel mechanism-driven therapy in chronic pain patients with altered mechanical S/R functions.
Date Issued
2020-04-06
Date Acceptance
2020-03-04
Citation
European Journal of Pain, 2020, 24 (6), pp.1130-1137
ISSN
1090-3801
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1130
End Page
1137
Journal / Book Title
European Journal of Pain
Volume
24
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Authors. European Journal of Pain published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Pain Federation ‐ EFIC ®
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32170802
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Anesthesiology
Clinical Neurology
Neurosciences
Neurosciences & Neurology
NEUROPATHIC PAIN
SECONDARY HYPERALGESIA
CENTRAL SENSITIZATION
EVOKED PAIN
PROTOCOL
TDCS
MODULATION
RATINGS
PLACEBO
SINGLE
Anesthesiology
1103 Clinical Sciences
1109 Neurosciences
1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Date Publish Online
2020-03-14