Modification of human pain threshold by specific tactile receptors

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of conditioning vibrotactile stimulation of particular tactile receptor groups on thresholds to painful electric stimuli were studied in 7 healthy [human] adults. Preferentially Pacinian afferents were activated with conditioning sinusoidal vibrations of 240 Hz at 20 and 200 .mu.m amplitudes and preferentially non-Pacinian tactile fibers were activated with conditioning sinusoidal vibrations of 20 Hz at 200 and 400 .mu.m aplitudes. None of the subjects showed pain threshold elevation during activation of non-Pacinian tactile fibers. Of the 7 subjects, 6 showed significant pain threshold elevation with conditioning vibratory stimulus of 240 Hz at 200 .mu.m amplitude, and 4 subjects showed significantly elevated pain thresholds and conditioning stimulus of 240 Hz at 20 .mu.m amplitude. The activation of Pacinian afferents causes inhibition of pain conducting pathways.