• Jun Motogi, Minori Kodaira, Yoshihiro Muragaki, Koji Inui, and Ryusuke Kakigi.
• Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering & Science, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan. Electronic address: motogi.jun@twmu.ac.jp.
• Neurosci. Lett. 2014 Jun 6;570:69-74.

AbstractIntra-epidermal electric stimulation (IES) is an alternative to laser stimulation for selective activation of cutaneous Aδ-fibers. IES is based on the fact that nociceptive fiber terminals are located in the epidermis, whereas receptors of other fibers end deep in the dermis. IES can selectively stimulate C-fibers if the electrode structure and stimulation parameters are carefully selected. However, stable selective stimulation of C-fibers using IES has proven difficult and cannot currently be used in clinical settings. The purpose of the present study was to determine if IES performed using a modified electrode reliably stimulates C-fibers. Magnetoencephalographic responses to IES to the foot were measured in seven healthy subjects. IES elicited somatosensory evoked fields in all subjects. The mean peak latency was 1,327 ± 116 ms in the opercular region contralateral to the stimulated side, 1,318 ± 90 ms in the opercular region ipsilateral to the stimulated side, and 1350 ± 139 ms in the primary somatosensory cortex. These results indicate that IES performed using the modified electrode can selectively stimulate C-fibers and may be a useful tool for pain research as well as clinical evaluation of peripheral small fiber function.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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