Abstract
The effects of DNIC (diffuse noxious inhibitory control) in humans were evaluated by means of pain SEPs (somatosensory evoked potentials) and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) following CO 2 laser stimulation applied to the left knee while conditioning stimuli (non-noxious and noxious thermal stimuli) applied to the right hand. Pain SEPs were recorded from scalp electrodes following laser stimulation applied to the left knee during various conditions as follows: (1) control (without any interference), (2) non-noxious (dipping the right hand in water at 41°C for 3 min), (3) noxious (dipping the right hand in water at 46°C for 3 min), and (4) after-effect (3–6 min after taking the hand from the water at 46°C). The present pain SEPs findings confirmed the presence of DNIC in humans, and indicates: (1) degree of pain relief was significantly correlated with changes in pain SEPs, particularly a marked decrease in amplitude, and a decrease in VAS; (2) DNIC was more effective on the second pain than the first pain; (3) the effect of DNIC gradually increased over time, but it rapidly disappeared after the conditioning stimuli ceased; and (4) DNIC was not due merely to changes of attention. I propose that the site responsible for DNIC is the brainstem or the spinal cord rather than the cerebral hemisphere.
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