Augmented Pain Processing in Primary and Secondary Somatosensory Cortex in Fibromyalgia: A Magnetoencephalography Study Using Intra-Epidermal Electrical Stimulation

The aim of this study was to investigate augmented pain processing in the cortical somatosensory system in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Cortical evoked responses were recorded in FM (n = 19) and healthy subjects (n = 21) using magnetoencephalography after noxious intra-epidermal electrical stimulation (IES) of the hand dorsum (pain rating 6 on a numeric rating scale, perceptually-equivalent). In addition, healthy subjects were stimulated using the amplitude corresponding to the average stimulus intensity rated 6 in patients with FM (intensity-equivalent). Quantitative sensory testing was performed on the hand dorsum or thenar muscle (neutral site) and over the trapezius muscle (tender point), using IES (thresholds, ratings, temporal summation of pain, stimulus-response curve) and mechanical stimuli (threshold, ratings). Increased amplitude of cortical responses was found in patients with FM as compared to healthy subjects. These included the contralateral primary (S1) and bilateral secondary somatosensory cortices (S2) in response to intensity-equivalent stimuli and the contralateral S1 and S2 in response to perceptually-equivalent stimuli. The amplitude of the contralateral S2 response in patients with FM was positively correlated with average pain intensity over the last week. Quantitative sensory testing results showed that patients with FM were more sensitive to painful IES as well as to mechanical stimulation, regardless of whether the stimulation site was the hand or the trapezius muscle. Interestingly, the slope of the stimulus-response relationship as well as temporal summation of pain in response to IES was not different between groups. Together, these results suggest that the observed pain augmentation in response to IES in patients with FM could be due to sensitization or disinhibition of the cortical somatosensory system. Since the S2 has been shown to play a role in higher-order functions, further studies are needed to clarify the role of augmented S2 response in clinical characteristics of FM.     

Effect of chronic intermittent exposure to AM radiofrequency field on responses to various types of noxious stimuli in growing rats

There are several reports of altered pain sensation after exposure (from a few minutes to hours in single or repeated doses for 2-3 weeks) to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in adults. The commonly utilized noxious stimulus is radiant heat. The nociceptive responses are known to be influenced by characteristics of stimulus, organism, and environment. We studied the pattern of nociceptive responses to various noxious stimuli in growing rats exposed to radiofrequency field (73.5 MHz amplitude modulated, 16 Hz power density 1.33 mw/cm(2), SAR = 0.4 w/kg) for 45 d (2 h/d). Threshold current for stimulation of nociceptive afferents to mediate motor response of tail (TF), vocalization during stimulus (VD), and vocalization after discharge (VA); the withdrawal latency of tail (TFL) and hind paw (HPL) to thermal noxious stimulus and tonic pain responses were recorded in every rat. The TFL was not affected, HPL was decreased (p < 0.01), and the thresholds of TF and VD were not affected, while, that of VA was significantly decreased. The tonic pain rating was decreased (p < 0.01). A decrease in the threshold of VA (p < 0.01) is indicative of an increase in the emotional component of the response to the phasic pain, whereas a decrease in the pain rating indicates analgesia in response to the tonic pain. The results of our study suggest that chronic (45 d), intermittent (2 h/d) amplitude modulated RF field exposure to the peripubertal rat increases the emotional component of phasic pain over a basal eaualgesic state, while late response to tonic pain is decreased. The data suggest that amplitude modulated RF field differentially affects the mechanisms involved in the processing of various noxious stimuli.     

Responses to tonic heat pain in the ongoing EEG under conditions of controlled attention

To confirm the existence of an ongoing electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern that is truly suggestive of pain, tonic heat pain was induced by small heat pulses at 1?°C above the pain threshold and compared to slightly less intense tonic non-painful heat pulses at 1?°C below the pain threshold. Twenty healthy subjects rated the sensation intensity during thermal stimulation. Possible confounding effects of attention were thoroughly controlled for by testing in four conditions: (1) focus of attention directed ipsilateral or (2) contralateral to the side of the stimulation, (3) control without a side preference, and (4) no control of attention at all. EEG was recorded via eight leads according to the 10/20 convention. Absolute power was computed for the frequency bands delta (0.5–4?Hz), theta (4–8?Hz), alpha1 (8–11?Hz), alpha2 (11–14?Hz), beta1 (14–25?Hz), and beta2 (25–35?Hz). Ratings were clearly distinct between the heat and pain conditions and suggestive for heat and pain sensations. Manipulation of attention proved to be successful by producing effects on the ratings and on the EEG activity (with lower ratings and lower EEG activity (theta, beta1, 2) over central areas for side-focused attention). During pain stimulation, lower central alpha1 and alpha2 activity and higher right-parietal and right-occipital delta power were observed compared to heat stimulation. This EEG pattern was not influenced by the manipulation of attention. Since the two types of stimuli (pain, heat) were subjectively felt differently although stimulation intensities were nearby, we conclude that this EEG pattern is clearly suggestive of pain.     

Neurophysiological correlates of acupuncture: limbic and thalamic responses to analgesic studies in non-human primates.

Single unit activity from chronically implanted squirrel monkeys was analyzed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture stimulation on limbic and thalamic structures associated with pain. Extracellular recordings and computer-generated interspike interval histograms (ISIH) were obtained from n. parafasicularis and n. ventralis posteromedialis of the thalamus and the laternal septum, basal amygdala and anterior cigulate cortex. Thalamic activity remained unchanged while limibc units demonstrated statistically significant alterations in both cell firing rate and the ISIH in response to acupuncture stimulation. Although pain thresholds in response to tooth pulp stimulation were increased by morphine (37-51% +/- 2.1), acupuncture proved totally ineffective. This may be interpreted as a selective response to acupuncture in CNS structures primarily concerned with the affective component of pain.     

下丘脑室旁核加压素能神经元参与电针刺激对实验性...

It has been demonstrated in animal model of somatic pain that hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) participates in acupuncture analgesia, probably by mediation of vasopressin release. The role of PVN in acupuncture analgesia for experimental visceral pain in rats was further investigated in the present study. Experimental results demonstrated that electroacupuncture could inhibit the writhing response, produced by intraperitoneal injection of antimonium potassium tartrate and this inhibitory effect could be enhanced by electrical stimulation of PVN, but decreased by electrolytical lesion of PVN, intracerebroventricular injection of vasopressin antiserum (14 microliters) or the vasopressin antagonist, d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-AVP (500 ng/5 microliters). Intraperitoneal administration of the latter drug (10 micrograms/kg), however, was ineffective. The above experimental results suggest that vasopressinergic neurons in PVN also participate in the inhibition of visceral pain by electroacupuncture.     

急性神经损伤引起脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位长时程增强

神经损伤引起神经病性疼痛,表现为持续性痛超敏和痛觉过敏。目前对神经病性疼痛的机制尚缺乏了解。我们以往的工作表明强直电刺激坐骨神经可引起脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位的长时程增强(long-term potentiation,LTP),该LTP被认为是病理性疼痛的突触模型。本研究的目的在于探讨急性神经损伤是否能在完整动物的脊髓背角诱发出C-纤维诱发电位LTP。在以测试刺激(10～20V,0．5ms)电刺激坐骨神经的同时在脊髓背角用微电极记录C一纤维诱发电位。分别用强直刺激、剪断或夹捏坐骨神经诱导LTP。结果发现：(1)剪断或夹捏坐骨神经都可以诱导脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位的LTP,该LTP可持续到实验结束(3～9h),在剪断神经前10min用利多卡因局部阻滞坐骨神经则可完全阻断LTP的产生;(2)神经损伤诱导的LTP可被NMDA受体阻断剂AP5所阻断;(3)用单次强直刺激引起LTP后,切断坐骨神经可使LTP的幅度进一步增大,而用多次强直电刺激使LTP饱和后,损伤神经则不能使LTP进一步增大。切断神经引起LTP后,强直电刺激也不能使LTP进一步增大。这些结果表明,急性神经损伤可以诱导脊髓背角C纤维诱发电位LTP,且切断神经能更有效地诱导LTP。该试验进一步支持我们的设想,即脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位LTP可能在病理性疼痛的形成中起重要作用。     

Arginine vasopressin in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is transferred to the caudate nucleus to participate in pain modulation

Arginine vasopressin (AVP), which is synthesized and secreted in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), is the most important bioactive substance in the pain modulation. Our pervious study had shown that AVP plays an important role in pain modulation in caudate nucleus (CdN). The experiment was designed to investigate the source of AVP in CdN by the nucleus push-pull perfusion and radioimmunoassay. The results showed that: (1) pain stimulation increased the AVP concentration in the CdN perfusion liquid, (2) PVN decreased the effect of pain stimulation which was stronger in both sides than in one side of PVN cauterization; and (3) L-glutamate sodium would excited the PVN neurons by the PVN microinjection that could increase the AVP concentration in the CdN perfusion liquid. The data suggested that AVP in the CdN might come from the PVN in the pain process, i.e., AVP in the PVN might be transferred to the CdN to participate in the pain modulation.     

经颅电刺激镇痛研究的现状及展望

经颅电刺激技术是一种非侵入性神经调控方法,因其具有卓越的安全性、良好的患者依从性以及高度便携性等特点,被视为一种潜在的非药物镇痛手段。然而,目前对于经颅电刺激镇痛效果的研究结果不一致且镇痛机制尚未完全阐明。本文通过系统归纳总结3种主要的经颅电刺激技术——经颅直流电刺激、经颅交流电刺激和经颅随机噪声刺激——在镇痛领域的研究进展,评估了这些技术对短时、急性和慢性疼痛的镇痛效果,并深入剖析了其潜在的镇痛机制。同时,本文系统讨论了既往研究的局限性,并对未来研究提出了一系列切实可行的建议,如借助电场模拟技术实现个性化刺激以克服不同个体头部解剖结构差异的影响、应用多位点刺激和深部脑刺激技术来拓展刺激脑区、搭建经颅电刺激技术同步神经影像平台以制定个体特异性的刺激方案并深入揭示其镇痛机制、探索与其他治疗技术的联合应用以提高疗效等。这些建议的实施将有助于解决当前研究中存在的问题,充分发挥经颅电刺激在疼痛治疗中的临床价值,最终实现患者疼痛的缓解。     

Effect of experimental muscle pain on maximal voluntary activation of human biceps brachii muscle

Muscle pain has widespread effects on motor performance, but the effect of pain on voluntary activation, which is the level of neural drive to contracting muscle, is not known. To determine whether induced muscle pain reduces voluntary activation during maximal voluntary contractions, voluntary activation of elbow flexors was assessed with both motor-point stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor cortex. In addition, we performed a psychophysical experiment to investigate the effect of induced muscle pain across a wide range of submaximal efforts (5-75% maximum). In all studies, elbow flexion torque was recorded before, during, and after experimental muscle pain by injection of 1 ml of 5% hypertonic saline into biceps. Injection of hypertonic saline evoked deep pain in the muscle (pain rating ～5 on a scale from 0 to 10). Experimental muscle pain caused a small (～5%) but significant reduction of maximal voluntary torque in the motor-point and motor cortical studies (P < 0.001 and P = 0.045, respectively; n = 7). By contrast, experimental muscle pain had no significant effect on voluntary activation when assessed with motor-point and motor cortical stimulation although voluntary activation tested with motor-point stimulation was reduced by ～2% in contractions after pain had resolved (P = 0.003). Furthermore, induced muscle pain had no significant effect on torque output during submaximal efforts (P > 0.05; n = 6), which suggests that muscle pain did not alter the relationship between the sense of effort and production of voluntary torque. Hence, the present study suggests that transient experimental muscle pain in biceps brachii has a limited effect on central motor pathways.     

Distribution of lumbar spinal evoked potentials and their correlation with stimulation-induced paresthesiae

In 7 awake patients with neuropathic lower extremity pain, spinal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were elicited from the non-painful leg by electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve and mechanical stimulation of the hallux ball. Recording was made epidurally in the thoraco-lumbar region by means of an electrode temporarily inserted for trial of pain-suppressing stimulation.In response to peroneal nerve stimulation, two major SEP complexes were found. The first complex consisted, as has been described earlier, of an initial positivity (P12), a spike-like negativity (N14), a slow negativity (N16) and a slow positivity (P23). The second complex consisted of a slow biphasic wave, conceivably mediated by a supraspinal loop. Both complexes had a similar longitudinal distribution with amplitude maxima at the T12 vertebral body.The SEP evoked by mechanical hallux ball stimulation had a relatively small amplitude, and there was no significant second complex. The relationship between stimulus intensity and SEP amplitude was negatively accelerating.The longitudinal distribution of spinal SEP was compated with the somatotopic distribution of paresthesiae induced by stimulation through the epidural electrode. It was found that stimulation applied at the level of maximal SEP generally induced paresthesiae in the corresponding peripheral region. Therefore, spinal SEP may be used as a guide for optimal positioning of a spinal electrode for therapeutic stimulation when implanted under general anesthesia.An attempt was made to record the antidromic potential in the peroneal nerve elicited from the dorsal columns by epidural stimulation. The antidromic response was, however, very sensitive to minimal changes of stimulus strength and body position of the patient, and was also contaminated by simultaneously evoked muscular reflex potentials.Thus, peripheral responses evoked by epidural stimulation appeared too unreliable to be useful for the permanent implantation of a spinal electrode for therapeutic stimulation.     

Analysis of the analgesic effects of tricyclic antidepressants on neuropathic pain,diabetic neuropathic pain,and fibromyalgia in rat models

ObjectiveTo investigate the analgesic effect of amitriptyline on neuropathic pain model rats, diabetic neuropathic pain model rats and fibromyalgia model rats.MethodsThe healthy male Sprague wrote – Dawley (SD) rats were taken as the research object, and they were randomly divided into model group (group A), beside the sciatic nerve and injection of 5 mm amitriptyline group (group B), beside the sciatic nerve and injection of 10 mm amitriptyline group (group C), beside the sciatic nerve and injection of 15 mm amitriptyline group (group D), intraperitoneal injection of amitriptyline group (group E). Pain induced by selective injury of sciatic nerve branches in rats, pain induced by chronic compression of sciatic nerve, diabetic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia were conducted to determine the pain threshold of mechanical stimulation in rats after drug administration.ResultsThe pain threshold of mechanical stimulation in the local amitriptyline group (group B, C, D) was significantly higher than that in the group A and group E at each time point after drug treatment, and the pain threshold of mechanical stimulation gradually increased with the increase of concentration. There was no statistically significant difference in mechanical stimulation pain threshold between group A and group E at each time point after drug treatment.ConclusionPara-sciatic injection of amitriptyline at different concentrations has analgesic effects on neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia in rat models, and amitriptyline directly ACTS on the local sciatic nerve.     

Comparison of fMRI BOLD Response Patterns by Electrical Stimulation of the Ventroposterior Complex and Medial Thalamus of the Rat

The objective of this study was to compare the functional connectivity of the lateral and medial thalamocortical pain pathways by investigating the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activation patterns in the forebrain elicited by direct electrical stimulation of the ventroposterior (VP) and medial (MT) thalamus. An MRI-compatible stimulation electrode was implanted in the VP or MT of α-chloralose-anesthetized rats. Electrical stimulation was applied to the VP or MT at various intensities (50 µA to 300 µA) and frequencies (1 Hz to 12 Hz). BOLD responses were analyzed in the ipsilateral forelimb region of the primary somatosensory cortex (iS1FL) after VP stimulation and in the ipsilateral cingulate cortex (iCC) after MT stimulation. When stimulating the VP, the strongest activation occurred at 3 Hz. The stimulation intensity threshold was 50 µA and the response rapidly peaked at 100 µA. When stimulating the MT, The optimal frequency for stimulation was 9 Hz or 12 Hz, the stimulation intensity threshold was 100 µA and we observed a graded increase in the BOLD response following the application of higher intensity stimuli. We also evaluated c-Fos expression following the application of a 200-µA stimulus. Ventroposterior thalamic stimulation elicited c-Fos-positivity in few cells in the iS1FL and caudate putamen (iCPu). Medial thalamic stimulation, however, produced numerous c-Fos-positive cells in the iCC and iCPu. The differential BOLD responses and c-Fos expressions elicited by VP and MT stimulation indicate differences in stimulus-response properties of the medial and lateral thalamic pain pathways.     

Mentalis muscle responses to median nerve stimulation

Electrical stimulation may produce excitation or inhibition of the motor neurons, as represented the blink reflex and masseter silent period in response to trigeminal nerve stimulation. Clinically, a light touch on the palm may evoke a mentalis muscle response (MMR), i.e. a palmomental reflex. In this study, we attempted to characterize the MMR to median nerve stimulation. Electrical stimulation was applied at the median nerve with recordings at the mentalis muscles. An inhibition study was done with continuous stimuli during muscle contraction (I1 and I2 of MMRaverage). Excitation was done with a single shot during muscle relaxation (MMRsingle) or by continuous stimuli during muscle contraction (E1 and E2 of MMRaverage). The characteristic differences between MMRaverage and MMRsingle were as follows: earlier onset latencies of MMRaverage (MMRaverage < 45 ms; MMRsingle > 60 ms), and a lower amplitude of MMRaverage (MMRaverage < 50 microV; MMRsingle > 150 microV). The receptive field of MMRsingle was widespread over the body surface and that of MMRaverage was limited to the trigeminal, median and index digital nerves. Series of stimuli usually significantly decreased the amplitude of MMRsingle, as a phenomenon of habituation. On the other hand, it was difficult to evoke the earlier response (i.e. MMRaverage) without continuous stimuli and an average technique. MMRaverage had the components of both excitation (E) and inhibition (I); for example, E1-I1-E2-I2 or I1-E2-I2. E2 was the most consistent component. In patients with dorsal column dysfunction, median nerve stimulation could successfully elicit MMRsingle, but not MMRaverage. Contrarily, in patients with pain sensory loss, it was more difficult to reproduce MMRsingle than MMRaverage. It seemed that MMRaverage and MMRsingle did not have equivalents across the different modalities of stimulation.     

外源性的电磁干预对神经病理性疼痛大鼠的镇痛效果研究

目的:探讨外源性的电磁干预方法对神经病理性疼痛大鼠的镇痛效果。方法:将30只成熟的雄性SD大鼠随机等分成3组:空白对照组(Control),坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤(CCI)组以及坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤协同电磁刺激组(CCI+EMF)。CCI组和CCI+EMF组的20只大鼠建立坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤模型,CCI+EMF组大鼠行外源性的全身性电磁刺激干预(脉冲波形,频率15 Hz,强度30 Gs),每天刺激6小时。在CCI模型构建的第0、3、6、9、12及15天对大鼠测试和比较足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值、运动功能评分和神经传导速率。结果:CCI组大鼠的足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值及感觉神经传导速率从CCI手术后的第3天即出现显著性降低,其6、9、12、15天足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值及感觉神经传导速率均显著低于Control组(P0.01),而运动功能评分均显著高于Control组(P0.05)。CCI+EMF组大鼠的足底机械痛阈值、足底热痛阈值及感觉神经传导速率在第9、12、15天显著高于CCI组大鼠(P0.05),而运动功能评分均显著高于CCI l组。结论:外源性的电磁刺激对于神经病理性疼痛大鼠具有良好的镇痛效果,有望成为一种临床治疗神经病理性疼痛的新的物理治疗手段。     

Functional connectivity of pain-mediated affect regulation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Affective instability and self-injurious behavior are important features of Borderline Personality Disorder. Whereas affective instability may be caused by a pattern of limbic hyperreactivity paired with dysfunctional prefrontal regulation mechanisms, painful stimulation was found to reduce affective arousal at the neural level, possibly underlying the soothing effect of pain in BPD.We used psychophysiological interactions to analyze functional connectivity of (para-) limbic brain structures (i.e. amygdala, insula, anterior cingulate cortex) in Borderline Personality Disorder in response to painful stimulation. Therefore, we re-analyzed a dataset from 20 patients with Borderline Personality Disorder and 23 healthy controls who took part in an fMRI-task inducing negative (versus neutral) affect and subsequently applying heat pain (versus warmth perception).Results suggest an enhanced negative coupling between limbic as well as paralimbic regions and prefrontal regions, specifically with the medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, when patients experienced pain in addition to emotional arousing pictures. When neutral pictures were combined with painful heat sensation, we found positive connectivity in Borderline Personality Disorder between (para-)limbic brain areas and parts of the basal ganglia (lentiform nucleus, putamen), as well areas involved in self-referential processing (precuneus and posterior cingulate).We found further evidence for alterations in the emotion regulation process in Borderline Personality Disorder, in the way that pain improves the inhibition of limbic activity by prefrontal areas. This study provides new insights in pain processing in BPD, including enhanced coupling of limbic structures and basal ganglia.     

Single-Point but Not Tonic Cuff Pressure Pain Sensitivity Is Associated with Level of Physical Fitness – A Study of Non-Athletic Healthy Subjects

Exercise is often used for pain rehabilitation but the link between physical activity level and pain sensitivity is still not fully understood. Pressure pain sensitivity to cuff algometry and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) were evaluated in highly active men (n=22), normally active men (n=26), highly active women (n=27) and normally active women (n=23) based on the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Cuff pressure pain sensitivity was assessed at the arm and lower leg. The subjects scored the pain intensity on an electronic Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during ten minutes with 25 kPa constant cuff pressure and two minutes with zero pressure. The maximal VAS score and area under the VAS-curve were extracted. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were recorded by manual pressure algometry on the ipsilateral tibialis anterior muscle before, during and after the tonic arm stimulation. Tonic cuff stimulation of the arm and leg resulted in higher VAS peak scores in women compared with men (p<0.04). In all groups the PPTs were reduced during and after the cuff stimulation compared with baseline (p=0.001). PPT were higher in men compared with women (p=0.03) and higher in highly physical active compared with normal active (p=0.048). Besides the well-known gender difference in pressure pain sensitivity this study demonstrates that a high physical fitness degree in non-athletic subjects is associated with increased pressure pain thresholds but does not affect cuff pressure pain sensitivity in healthy people.     

刺激蓝斑及电针对大鼠脊髓背角神经元伤害性反应的影响

以往的工作表明,蓝斑（LC）-去甲肾上腺素能神经元系统在痛觉调制和针刺镇痛中起着重要作用,本文用电生理学方法研究刺激LC和电针对大鼠脊髓背角神经元伤害性反应的影响,其主要结果如下：1、刺激LC或电针有明显抑制脊髓背角神经元伤害性反应的作用。2、损毁中缝大核和腹腔注射纳洛酮并不明显影响刺激LC的抑制效应。3、α2受体激动剂氯压啶能加强刺激LC或电针的抑制效应,而α受体阻断剂酚妥拉明在一定程度上能削弱这种抑制效应,这些实验结果提示,刺激LC和电针可激活LC神经元,通过其下行纤维,在脊髓水平释放NE,通过α2受体,阻断伤害性信息的传递。     

Paradoxical experience of hypnotic analgesia in low hypnotizable fibromyalgic patients

The study investigated the differences in pain perception in highly (Highs) and low (Lows) hypnotizable patients with chronic benign pain undergoing hypnotic suggestions of analgesia. Self reports of pain intensity were collected in different groups of fibromyalgic patients: (1) Highs and Lows during pre-hypnosis, neutral hypnosis, suggestions for analgesia, posthypnotic conditions; (2) Lows during suggestions for analgesia administered after a mental stress instead of neutral hypnosis; (3) healthy Lows receiving nociceptive stimulation during hypnotic relaxation and suggestions of analgesia. The results showed that Highs and Lows differed in their response to suggestions, but significant analgesia was reported also by Lows. These individuals did not report any difference in pain perception between the sessions including mental stress and hypnotic relaxation. No change in pain perception was observed in healthy Lows during nociceptive stimulation associated with relaxation and suggestions for analgesia. In conclusion, the presence of chronic pain seems to be responsible for the paradoxical response of non hypnotizable patients to hypnotic suggestions.     

脑部刺激、镇痛药和电针穴位对刺激猫被盖外侧部引起的怒叫反应的影响

34只猫在浅麻醉下,以方波电刺激中脑“怒叫中枢”引起的叫反应为指标,观察到:镇痛药、电针穴位及脑部刺激对叫反应都有压抑作用,痛刺激使叫反应增强,多次单独刺激“怒叫中枢”叫反应均较恒定。提示这种叫反应与痛有关。