Journal of neuroscience methods
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J. Neurosci. Methods · Jun 1988
Selective averaging of argon laser induced pre-pain and pain related cortical responses.
The argon laser was found to be suitable for pre-pain and pain stimulation. The visible (488 and 515 nm) argon laser light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by melanin and haemoglobin. Argon laser stimuli of different intensities were perceived differently, and could be classified into 3 pre-pain and 3 pain classes. ⋯ Pre-pain related responses were only recorded when selective averaging according to perception was used. The amplitude of the selectively averaged pain related cortical responses correlated with the subjective sensation of pain. Selective averaging of pre-pain and pain related single responses may prove useful in studying the cortical projection of different perceptions or modality patterns, and to investigate the function of the thermal and nociceptive pathways and their interactions.