Test-retest reliability of thermal temporal summation using an individualized protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Unlabelled

Temporal summation (TS) refers to the increased perception of pain with repetitive noxious stimuli. It is a behavioral correlate of wind-up, the spinal facilitation of recurring C-fiber stimulation. In order to utilize TS in clinical pain research, it is important to characterize TS in a wide range of individuals and to establish its test-retest reliability. Building on a fixed-parameter protocol, we developed an individually adjusted protocol to broadly capture thermally generated TS. We then examined the test-retest reliability of TS within-day (intertrial intervals ranging from 2 to 30 minutes) and between-days (intersession interval of 7 days). We generated TS-like effects in 19 of the 21 participants. Strong correlations were observed across all trials over both day

SUBMITTER: Kong JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3541942 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature