Corticospinal Excitability and Short Afferent Inhibition

摘要: Sensorimotor integration is altered in people with chronic pain. While there substantial evidence that pain interferes neural activity primary sensory and motor cortices, much less known about its impact on integrative sensorimotor processes. Here, the short latency afferent inhibition (SAI) paradigm was used to assess presence absence of experimental cutaneous heat applied hand. Ulnar nerve stimulation combined transcranial magnetic condition evoked potentials (MEPs) first dorsal interosseous muscle. Four interstimulus intervals (ISI) were tested, based N20 component volley (N20 5 ms, N20+2 N20+4 N20+10 ms). In PAIN condition, MEPs smaller compared NEUTRAL (p = 0.005), modulated as a function ISI 0.012). Post-hoc planned comparisons revealed at inhibited unconditioned MEPs. However, level similar conditions. This suggests interplay between not mediated through direct rapid pathways assessed by SAI, but rather might involve higher-order areas.