title: The blink reflex and the corneal reflex are followed by cortical activity resembling the nociceptive potentials induced by trigeminal laser stimulation in man.
abstract: Laser stimulation of the supraorbital regions evokes brain potentials (LEPs) related to trigeminal nociception. The aim of this study was to record the R2 component of the blink reflex and the corneal reflex in 20 normal subjects, comparing the scalp activity following these reflexes with the nociceptive potentials evoked by CO2 laser stimulation of supraorbital regions. Cortical and muscular reflexes evoked by stimulation of the first trigeminal branch were recorded simultaneously. The R2 component of the blink reflex and the corneal reflex were followed by two cortical peaks, which resembled morphologically N-P waves of LEPs. The two peaks demonstrated a difference in latency of approximately 40 ms, which is consistent with activation time of nociception. This finding suggests that these reflexes are induced by activation of small pain-related fibers.
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Center for the Study of Headache and Neurotransmitter Disorders of the Central Nervous System, Perugia, Roma, Sassari, Bari, Napoli, Firenze, Italy. m.detommaso@neurol.uniba.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Tommaso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Libro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sciruicchio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*