Perceptual correlates of homosynaptic long-term potentiation in human nociceptive pathways: a replication study

Author:

van den Broeke E. N.1,Vanmaele T.2,Mouraux A.1,Stouffs A.1,Biurrun-Manresa J.3,Torta D. M.2ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Neuroscience, IoNS, Faculty of Medicine, UC Louvain, Avenue Mounier 53, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium

2. Health Psychology Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

3. Institute for Research and Development in Bioengineering and Bioinformatics (IBB-CONICET-UNER), National University of Entre Rios, Oro Verde, Argentina

Abstract

Animal studies have shown that high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of peripheral C-fibres induces long-term potentiation (LTP) within spinal nociceptive pathways. The aim of this replication study was to assess if a perceptual correlate of LTP can be observed in humans. In 20 healthy volunteers, we applied HFS to the left or right volar forearm. Before and after applying HFS, we delivered single electrical test stimuli through the HFS electrode while a second electrode at the contra-lateral arm served as a control condition. Moreover, to test the efficacy of the HFS protocol, we quantified changes in mechanical pinprick sensitivity before and after HFS of the skin surrounding both electrodes. The perceived intensity was collected for both electrical and mechanical stimuli. After HFS, the perceived pain intensity elicited by the mechanical pinprick stimuli applied on the skin surrounding the HFS-treated site was significantly higher compared to control site (heterotopic effect). Furthermore, we found a higher perceived pain intensity for single electrical stimuli delivered to the HFS-treated site compared to the control site (homotopic effect). Whether the homotopic effect reflects a perceptual correlate of homosynaptic LTP remains to be elucidated.

Funder

Fonds de Recherche Clinique

Queen Elisabeth Medical Foundation for Neuroscience

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

BOFZAP Starting Grant KU Leuven

Publisher

The Royal Society

Subject

Multidisciplinary

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