Reliable Biomarkers of Descending Pain Inhibition: A Laser-Evoked Potential and Behavioural Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) assesses descending pain inhibition, but behavioural approaches are limited by subjectivity and variable reproducibility. We tested a CPM protocol combining nociceptive-selective laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) with a repeated-trial design to determine whether neurophysiological markers complement behavioural measures and improve reliability.

Methods

Twenty-seven healthy adults (mean age 24.6 years; 14 female) completed two sessions ≥ 1 week apart. Nociceptive-selective laser stimuli were applied to the left hand before and after a cold pressor task, and EEG was recorded to extract LEP-N2P2 components. Temporal LEP-N1 was measured as a secondary outcome. Behavioural CPM (B_CPM) was indexed by pain ratings; neurophysiological CPM (N

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12670355 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature