NeurophysiologyOpen OpportunitiesThe main tract for transmitting noxious stimuli is the spinothalamic tract, receiving its input from different types of small fibers in the skin i.e., mechanical- or heat-sensitive fibers. In spinal cord injury as in other pathologies involving neuropathic pain and sensation deficits, it is crucial to assess spinothalamic tract integrity with objective methods. This depends on a well-characterized stimulation modality, activating small fibers, and implies the recording of brain activity in response to this stimulation (electroencephalography; EEG).1 Intra-epidermal electrical stimulation (IES) using a concentric triple electrode is known for its clinical potential due to small fiber activation and is a good candidate for the activation of the spinothalamic tract.2 However, to implement IES as a diagnostic tool in the clinical routine, feasibility, and test-retest reliability need to be assessed compared to other stimulation modalities.3–5 - Central Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, Sensory Systems, Systems Physiology
- Course Project, Internship, Master Thesis, Semester Project
| The autonomic nervous system reacts to pain, for example by adapting the heart rate or increased sweat output at the hands. Such pain-autonomic responses have been shown to be increased in chronic pain patients with a sensitized nociceptive system (Scheuren et al., 2023). However, pain-autonomic responses can also be influenced be positive and negative expectations (Aslaksen et al., 2008; Rhudy et al., 2018). Therefore, we aim to disentangle the effects of expectations and sensitization on pain-autonomic responses. For this reason, we will conduct a study in healthy participants, using experimentally induced sensitization and a placebo paradigm. - Biology, Medical and Health Sciences
- Internship, Master Thesis
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