• Maximilian Bäumler, Moritz Feller, Stefanie Krafft, Manuela Schiffer, Jens Sommer, Andreas Straube, Fabian Weinges, and Ruth Ruscheweyh.
• Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany; Department of Anesthesiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
• Clin Neurophysiol. 2017 Dec 1; 128 (12): 2462-2469.

ObjectiveHealthy subjects can learn to use cognitive-emotional strategies to suppress their spinal nociception, quantified by the nociceptive flexor reflex (RIII reflex), when given visual RIII feedback. This likely reflects learned activation of descending pain inhibition. Here, we investigated if training success persists 4 and 8 months after the end of RIII feedback training, and if transfer (RIII suppression without feedback) is possible.Methods18 and 8 subjects who had successfully completed feedback training were investigated 4 and 8 months later.ResultsAt 4 months, RIII suppression during feedback and transfer was similar to that achieved at the final RIII feedback training session (to 50 ± 22%, 53 ± 21% and 52 ± 21% of baseline, all differences n.s.). At 8 months, RIII suppression was somewhat (not significantly) smaller in the feedback run (to 64 ± 17%) compared to the final training session (56 ± 19%). Feedback and transfer runs were similar (to 64 ± 17% vs. 68 ± 24%, n.s.). Concomitant reductions in pain intensity ratings were stable at 4 and 8 months.ConclusionsRIII feedback training success was completely maintained after 4 months, and somewhat attenuated 8 months after training. Transfer was successful.SignificanceThese results are an important pre-requisite for application of RIII feedback training in the context of clinical pain.Copyright © 2017 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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