Spatial summation of heat induced pain within and between dermatomes |
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Authors: | JESPER NIELSEN LARS ARENDT-NIELSEN |
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Institution: | Laboratory for Experimental Pain Research, Center for Sensory–Motor Interaction, Aalborg University, DK–9220 Aalborg, Denmark |
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Abstract: | The aim was to study spatial summation within and between ipsi- and contralateral dermatomes at different painful temperatures. For heat stimulation we used a computer controlled thermofoil based thermode. The thermode area could be varied in five discrete steps from 3.14 to 15.70 cm2. When we applied the stimuli within a dermatome, the mean heat pain threshold decreased significantly from 45.6 to 43.5 C as the area was increased from minimum (3.14 cm2) to maximum (15.70 cm2). When the areas were increased involving different dermatomes (both ipsi- or contralateral), we found similar decreases in pain threshold. Spatial summation was also found within and between dermatomes at supra-threshold temperatures (46, 48, 50 C).The study shows that spatial summation of pain is most likely a mechanism acting across segments and is existing from pain threshold to tolerance. |
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Keywords: | Key Words: Spatial Summation Heat Pain Dermatomes |
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