title: A new method to increase nociception specificity of the human blink reflex.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The medullary R2 response of the blink reflex can be elicited by innocuous and noxious stimuli. The purpose of this study was to elicit a nociception specific R2 response with a new surface electrode.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 10 healthy subjects the blink reflex was elicited using a standard (10-15 mA) and a new concentric surface electrode type (0.6-1.6 mA) which produces a pin-prick-like pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After topical local anaesthesia with lignocaine/prilocaine R1 was unchanged, R2 was attenuated by 12% after standard stimulation but was almost abolished (-91%) with the new electrode type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stimulation with low stimulus intensities but electrode-dependent high current density allows preferential depolarization of superficial nociceptive A-delta fibres. This new method is less traumatic than others and is useful in the study of trigeminal nociception.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK. holgerk@ion.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaube
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Katsarava
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Käufer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diener
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellrich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity