title: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over primary motor vs non-motor cortical targets; effects on experimental hyperalgesia in healthy subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targetted to different cortical regions (primary motor/sensory, prefrontal) are known to alter somatosensory responses. The mechanism(s) for these effects are unclear. We compared the analgesic effects of rTMS at different cortical sites on hyperalgesia induced using topical capsaicin cream.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen healthy subjects had capsaicin cream applied to a 16 cm2 area of the medial aspect of the right wrist (60 min) on 4 separate occasions over 6 weeks. rTMS (10Hz for 10s/min = 2000 stimuli @ 90% resting motor threshold of first dorsal interosseus muscle) was applied to the optimum site for right hand (M1), left dorsolateral prefrontal (DLFPC) and occipital midline (OCC) in a pseudo-randomised order. Thermal and mechanical perception and pain thresholds were determined using standardised quantitative sensory testing (QST) methods at the capsaicin site. Subjective responses to thermal stimuli (pain score on a numerical rating scale) from -2.5°C to +2.5°C of the individualised heat pain threshold (HPT) resulted in a hyperalgesia curve. Sensory testing took place prior to capsaicin application (PRE-CAP), after 30 min of capsaicin (POST-CAP) and following rTMS (30 min = POST-TMS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Capsaicin application resulted in substantial changes in thermal (but not mechanical) sensitivity to both heat and cold (eg. HPT PRE-CAP = 43.6°C to POST-CAP = 36.7°C (p < 0.001)) with no differences between groups pre-rTMS. POST-TMS HPT showed no changes for any of the treatment groups, however the pain scores for the hyperalgesia curve were significantly lower for M1 vs OCC (-24.7%, p < 0.001) and for M1 vs DLFPC (-18.3%, p < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rTMS over the primary motor cortex results in a significant analgesic effect compared to other cortical areas.
authors.affiliation: Pain Research Institute, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK. psacco@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Turo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nurmikko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D018689:Sensory System Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018689:Sensory System Agents; D002211:Capsaicin