Neuroselective transcutaneous electric stimulation reveals body area-specific differences in itch perception.
BACKGROUND
Electrically evoked itch has been reported, although the electrodes, the frequency, and the pulse duration used were not standardized.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether a neuroselective transcutaneous electrical stimulator (NTES; Neurometer; Neurotron, Inc, Baltimore, Md) can evoke itch and whether it can provoke itch on any body area.


METHODS
Twelve healthy subjects were stimulated on 30 body sites by 5 Hz alternating current produced by the NTES. We classified the evoked perceptions into two sensations (with and without itch) and divided the examined sites into 7 groups: G1, head and neck; G2, arm; G3, palm; G4, the dorsal surface of the hand; G5, knee and leg; G6, dorsal foot; and G7, ankle. The data were then statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
The NTES preferentially evoked itch at the G4 and G7 sites, and a sensation without itch at the G1 site.


CONCLUSIONS
Tests were performed on limited body areas.


CONCLUSIONS
The NTES can provoke itch, it was discovered that there are body area-specific differences in itch sensation.
Ozawa
Maki
M
Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Tsuchiyama
Kenichiro
K
Gomi
Rumiko
R
Kurosaki
Fumio
F
Kawamoto
Yuji
Y
Aiba
Setsuya
S
D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000294:innervation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation; D005542:Forearm / Q000294:innervation; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006257:Head / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000294:innervation; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000294:innervation; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000502:physiology*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology