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Does High Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Affect EEG Gamma Band Activity?
M Ebrahimian1,2, M Razeghi1,3, A Zamani4
1Department of Physi¬otherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Journal of Biomedical Physics & Engineering
|October 16, 2018
Summary
High-frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) effectively reduced heightened gamma band activity associated with induced pain in healthy volunteers. This suggests TENS may serve as a biomarker for pain management and neurofeedback therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Management
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a safe, non-invasive analgesic for pain relief.
- Limited research exists on TENS' effects on brain activity, particularly gamma band activity.
- No prior studies investigated high-frequency TENS impact on gamma band activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of high-frequency TENS on electroencephalographic (EEG) gamma band activity.
- To assess TENS' impact on pain intensity after inducing ischemic pain in healthy volunteers.
Main Methods:
- Induced tonic pain using a modified Submaximal effort tourniquet test in 15 healthy volunteers.
- Applied high-frequency TENS (100 Hz, 150µs duration) for 20 minutes.
- Measured pain intensity via Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and recorded EEG gamma band activity.
Main Results:
- EEG analysis revealed increased gamma total power post-pain induction, which decreased after TENS application.
- VAS scores showed a significant reduction in pain intensity following TENS.
- All observed changes were statistically significant (p<.001).
Conclusions:
- High-frequency TENS effectively reduces elevated gamma band activity associated with induced tonic pain.
- This finding may establish TENS as a functional brain biomarker for pain treatment.
- Results support the use of TENS in EEG-based neurofeedback approaches for pain management.
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