Modulation of the human nociceptive flexion reflex axross the cardiac cycle

Louisa Edwards; Christopher Ring; David McIntyre; Douglas Carroll

doi:10.1111/1469-8986.3840712

Modulation of the human nociceptive flexion reflex axross the cardiac cycle

Louisa Edwards, Christopher Ring, David McIntyre, Douglas Carroll

Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

76 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Carotid baroreceptor stimulation has been shown to dampen pain. This study tested, in 40 normotensive adults, the hypothesis that pain is lower during systole when arterial baroreceptor stimulation is maximal than diastole when stimulation is minimal. The sural nerve was stimulated electrocutaneously to obtain a nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold, and then stimulation was delivered for 28 trials at 100% NFR threshold at seven intervals after the R-wave. Nociceptive responding was indexed by electromyographic (EMG) activity elicited in the biceps femoris. Significant variations in EMG activity occurred across the cardiac cycle, with less activity midcycle. indicating that the NFR response was attenuated during systole compared to diastole. Stimulation of baroreceptors by natural changes in blood pressure during the cardiac cycle dampened nociception, and accordingly, the data support the arterial baroreflex mechanism of hypertensive hypoalgesia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	712-718
Number of pages	7
Journal	Psychophysiology
Volume	38
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-8986.3840712
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2001

Keywords

baroreflex
blood pressure
hypertension
nociceptive flexion reflex
descending pain modulation
cardiac cycle time

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10.1111/1469-8986.3840712

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title = "Modulation of the human nociceptive flexion reflex axross the cardiac cycle",

abstract = "Carotid baroreceptor stimulation has been shown to dampen pain. This study tested, in 40 normotensive adults, the hypothesis that pain is lower during systole when arterial baroreceptor stimulation is maximal than diastole when stimulation is minimal. The sural nerve was stimulated electrocutaneously to obtain a nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold, and then stimulation was delivered for 28 trials at 100% NFR threshold at seven intervals after the R-wave. Nociceptive responding was indexed by electromyographic (EMG) activity elicited in the biceps femoris. Significant variations in EMG activity occurred across the cardiac cycle, with less activity midcycle. indicating that the NFR response was attenuated during systole compared to diastole. Stimulation of baroreceptors by natural changes in blood pressure during the cardiac cycle dampened nociception, and accordingly, the data support the arterial baroreflex mechanism of hypertensive hypoalgesia.",

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T1 - Modulation of the human nociceptive flexion reflex axross the cardiac cycle

AU - Edwards, Louisa

AU - Ring, Christopher

AU - McIntyre, David

AU - Carroll, Douglas

PY - 2001/7/1

Y1 - 2001/7/1

N2 - Carotid baroreceptor stimulation has been shown to dampen pain. This study tested, in 40 normotensive adults, the hypothesis that pain is lower during systole when arterial baroreceptor stimulation is maximal than diastole when stimulation is minimal. The sural nerve was stimulated electrocutaneously to obtain a nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold, and then stimulation was delivered for 28 trials at 100% NFR threshold at seven intervals after the R-wave. Nociceptive responding was indexed by electromyographic (EMG) activity elicited in the biceps femoris. Significant variations in EMG activity occurred across the cardiac cycle, with less activity midcycle. indicating that the NFR response was attenuated during systole compared to diastole. Stimulation of baroreceptors by natural changes in blood pressure during the cardiac cycle dampened nociception, and accordingly, the data support the arterial baroreflex mechanism of hypertensive hypoalgesia.

AB - Carotid baroreceptor stimulation has been shown to dampen pain. This study tested, in 40 normotensive adults, the hypothesis that pain is lower during systole when arterial baroreceptor stimulation is maximal than diastole when stimulation is minimal. The sural nerve was stimulated electrocutaneously to obtain a nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold, and then stimulation was delivered for 28 trials at 100% NFR threshold at seven intervals after the R-wave. Nociceptive responding was indexed by electromyographic (EMG) activity elicited in the biceps femoris. Significant variations in EMG activity occurred across the cardiac cycle, with less activity midcycle. indicating that the NFR response was attenuated during systole compared to diastole. Stimulation of baroreceptors by natural changes in blood pressure during the cardiac cycle dampened nociception, and accordingly, the data support the arterial baroreflex mechanism of hypertensive hypoalgesia.

KW - baroreflex

KW - blood pressure

KW - hypertension

KW - nociceptive flexion reflex

KW - descending pain modulation

KW - cardiac cycle time

U2 - 10.1111/1469-8986.3840712

DO - 10.1111/1469-8986.3840712

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VL - 38

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EP - 718

JO - Psychophysiology

JF - Psychophysiology

ER -

Modulation of the human nociceptive flexion reflex axross the cardiac cycle

Abstract

Keywords

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