title: Modulation of thermal somatosensory thresholds within local and remote spinal dermatomes following cervical repetitive magnetic stimulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) modulates thermal somatosensory function at both low (0.2-1.0Hz) and high (5.0-20.0Hz) frequencies within the conditioned dermatome. However the effects of 1Hz and 20Hz cervical (C6-C7) rMS on thermosensory thresholds and contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) tested within local and remote spinal dermatomes are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty healthy subjects participated in the study. Warm and cold detection threshold, heat and cold pain thresholds, and Cz/Fz CHEPs were evaluated within the C6, T10 and extrasegmental V3 control dermatome, before and after random assignment of subjects to sham, 1 or 20Hz C6-C7 rMS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following both 1 and 20Hz cervical rMS, warm detection threshold increased within the local C6 dermatome. Furthermore 1Hz cervical rMS increased warm detection threshold within the remote T10 dermatome, but not within the V3-trigeminal control area. Cervical rMS failed to modulate cold detection threshold, heat and cold pain threshold or Cz/Fz CHEP amplitude from the dermatomal test sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both 1 and 20Hz cervical rMS modulated warm detection threshold within the locally conditioned C6 dermatome. The concomitant increase in warm detection threshold within the T10 dermatome following 1Hz rMS provides evidence for remote neuromodulation of thermosensory function via intraspinal control mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Paraplejicos SESCAM, Finca "La Peraleda", Toledo 45071, Spain. Electronic address: salbu@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Sergiu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albu
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez-Soriano
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bravo-Esteban
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palazon
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumru
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avila-Martin
authors.forename: Iriana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galán-Arriero
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D059346:Magnets; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D014279:Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Contact heat evoked potentials; Dermatome; Non-invasive repetitive magnetic stimulation; Remote neuromodulation; Thermal detection threshold; Thermal pain threshold