Generator Mechanism of Pain-Related Evoked Potentials Following CO2 Laser Stimulation of the Hand

Abstract

In order to clarify the generator mechanism of pain-related evoked potentials (pain EPs), we studied the scalp topography of the pain EPs following CO2 laser stimulation of hand dorsum by using balanced sternovertebral electrodes as the noncephalic reference in 11 normal volunteers. We also examined the effects of predictive warning signal (light-emitting diode) on the pain EPs. In both the warned and unwarned conditions, all of the 22 hand stimulations showed a large negative component (N2) at the peak latency of about 213 ms followed by a large positive component (P2) at the peak latency of about 329 ms. A preceding small negative component (N1) at the peak latency of about 148 ms was detected in 12 of the 22 hand stimulations in the warned condition and in 13 of the 22 hand stimulations in the unwarned condition. P2 was significantly larger and occurred earlier in the warned condition than in the unwarned condition, whereas other components did not differ between the two conditions, suggesting that an increased attention of the subject to the stimulus influenced the generator mechanism of the P2 component. With regards to the scalp topography, N2 was maximal at Cz and widespread transversely to both sides, whereas P2 was maximal at Cz or Pz and spread more posteriorly than N2. These findings suggest that P2 is generated by a different mechanism from N2 and is most likely associated with pain-related cognitive function. N1 was localized to the contralateral central and midtemporal areas, confirming that the nociceptive inputs are perceived in the sensory cortex in humans. The question as to whether the N1 component is generated in the hand area of the primary somatosensory cortex or in the secondary somatosensory cortex, or in both areas, remains to be solved.