Reflection of the pattern of skin vascular responses (Dermographism) in the verbal expression of sensations in healthy subjects

Abstract

Two types of verbal descriptions of the sensations of skin vascular responses (in addition to the mechanical stimulation itself) to graded dermographic stimulation were found: (1) anticipatory, corresponding to the type of the subsequent changes in the skin blood flow in the zone of stimulation, and (2) individual description of the poststimulus “trace” changes in the blood flow. The specific feature of the emotional estimation of stimuli was a positive or neutral estimation of stimulations that did not cause a response of skin vessels (subthreshold) and a negative estimation of superthreshold stimulations. The possibility of perception of skin vascular responses as an emotional component of sensation was suggested. The poststimulus period of superthreshold stimulations (two-phase vascular responses) was characterized by a change in the sensation modality. The capacity for recognizing changes in the quality of skin vessels that continue during superthreshold stimulation accompanied by a “trace” rapid high-amplitude vasodilation was found.