An experimental heat pain model prevented the habituation of sympathetic skin responses to both pinprick and heat stimuli compared to a control model (P=0.033), indicating a priming of the autonomic nervous system.
RCT (n=20)
Open-label
Randomized crossover order
No
Does an experimental heat pain model increase sympathetic skin responses and skin conductance levels in healthy females compared to a non-noxious control model?
Enhanced autonomic responses after an experimental pain model reflect a general priming of the autonomic nervous system rather than solely nociceptive sensitization.
p-value: p=0.033
The facilitation of pain-induced sympathetic skin responses observed after experimentally induced central sensitization is unspecific to the stimulation modality and thereby unlikely solely driven by nociceptive sensitization. In addition, these enhanced pain-induced autonomic responses are also not related to higher stimulus-associated arousal, but rather a general priming of the autonomic nervous system. Hence, autonomic readouts may be able to detect generalized hyperexcitability in chronic pain, beyond the nociceptive system, which may contribute to clinical pain phenotypes.
Scheuren et al. (2023) conducted an RCT in Healthy volunteers (experimental pain model) (n=20). Experimental heat pain model vs. Control model (target 1°C above warm detection threshold) was evaluated on Habituation of sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) to pinprick and heat stimuli from PRE to POST (p=0.033). An experimental heat pain model prevented the habituation of sympathetic skin responses to both pinprick and heat stimuli compared to a control model (P=0.033), indicating a priming of the autonomic nervous system.
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