Acupuncture analgesia and radiant-heat pain: a signal-detection analysis.
Responses to radiant-heat stimulation to the back of the hand were obtained during baseline conditions and during acupuncture sessions. Signal-detection methodology and analysis were used to determine whether acupuncture affects d' (changes physiologic processes) relative to pain report. A binary rather than a rating-scale procedure was used to obtain more accurate measures of sensitivity. Results indicated that acupuncture decreased sensitivity only at intensity levels that were never described as painful.
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D004056:Differential Threshold; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D010146:Pain