Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
-
To investigate the mechanism subtending the analgesic effect of high frequency non-painful somatosensory stimulation. ⋯ Our experimental design reproduces what happens when non-painful somatosensory stimuli are used to reduce pain, such as rubbing a wound or during transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Therefore, in these situations the analgesia is likely to occur at the spinal cord level.
-
To elucidate differences in the distribution and firing frequency of fasciculations between peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to explore the generator site of fasciculations. ⋯ A significant proportion of fasciculations in ALS may be influenced by changes in central excitability.
-
To investigate whether cool-evoked potentials (CEP) elicited by brisk innocuous cooling of the skin could serve as an alternative to laser-evoked potentials (LEP), currently considered as the best available neurophysiological tool to assess the spinothalamic tract and diagnose neuropathic pain. ⋯ CEPs can be a complementary tool to the recording of LEPS for assessing the function of small-diameter Aδ-fibers and the spinothalamic tract.