Perception of first and second pain during offset analgesia

Introduction Offset analgesia (OA) is defined as a disproportionate reduction in pain perception following a small decrease in noxious stimulation. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear, with ongoing debate on peripheral versus central contributions. Objectives This experimental study aimed to differentiate first and second pain perception during the OA paradigm, thereby assessing fiber-specific influences on OA. Methods Thirty-two healthy participants were asked to distinguish a double pain sensation (first and second pain), to assess pain quality descriptors related to A-δ and C-fibers, and to indicate response times to brief noxious heat stimuli. This procedure was repeated while implementing heat pulses in an OA paradigm. Results No significant differences were found between offset and constant trials in the reported double pain sensation or the fiber specific pain descriptors (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, significant differences in response times were observed depending on the type of trial and the timing of the stimulus. Response time to noxious stimuli was delayed after prolonged stimulation in both offset and constant trials (p < 0.05). Conclusions The findings suggest that A-δ and C-fiber response characteristics were unaffected during the OA paradigm; however, higher stimulation intensities or prolonged pain induce a notable response delay. This indicates a negligible role of specific peripheral nerve fibers in OA, emphasizing the predominance of central mechanisms, particularly those related to attention and cognitive resources, which merit further investigation.