AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how different transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocols affect pain processing in healthy individuals using quantitative sensory tests (QST).
- It reviews 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and finds that while tDCS increases pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) when applied to the sensory cortex (S1) and alters cold pain thresholds (CPTs) when applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), there are no notable changes in heat pain thresholds (HPTs).
- The conclusion highlights that specific tDCS placement can enhance certain pain thresholds and reduce evoked pain intensity, particularly in motor cortex (M1) stimulation, suggesting potential applications in pain management.
Article Abstract
Background: The aim of this study is to determine the effect that different tDCS protocols have on pain processing in healthy people, assessed using quantitative sensory tests (QST) and evoked pain intensity.
Methods: We systematically searched in EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, PEDro, PsycInfo, and Web of Science. Articles on tDCS on a healthy population and regarding QST, such as pressure pain thresholds (PPT), heat pain thresholds (HPT), cold pain threshold (CPT), or evoked pain intensity were selected. Quality was analyzed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and PEDro scale.
Results: Twenty-six RCTs were included in the qualitative analysis and sixteen in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in PPTs between tDCS and sham, but differences were observed when applying tDCS over S1 in PPTs compared to sham. Significant differences in CPTs were observed between tDCS and sham over DLPFC and differences in pain intensity were observed between tDCS and sham over M1. Non-significant effects were found for the effects of tDCS on HPTs.
Conclusion: tDCS anodic over S1 stimulation increases PPTs, while a-tDCS over DLPFC affects CPTs. The HPTs with tDCS are worse. Finally, M1 a-tDCS seems to reduce evoked pain intensity in healthy subjects.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10813344 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14010009 | DOI Listing |
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