Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on acute pain

摘要

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on acute pain, We studied effects of 1-Hz rTMS over the primary motor cortex on acute pain induced by capsaicin and by Tm:YAG laser stimulation. rTMS significantly suppressed the subjective pain induced by capsaicin, whereas it aggravated the subjective pain induced by laser stimulation. We found opposite effects of rTMS on C-fiber-mediated pain (suppression) and Adelta-fiber-mediated pain (facilitation). The results provide evidence that the motor cortex plays an important role in the modulation of acute pain perception, and may reflect the distinct biological significance of first and second pain.