Transcutaneous electrical stimulation and the sensation of prickle

1. A high-voltage low-current transcutaneous electrical stimulating device was constructed and tested for its suitability to evaluate fabric-evoked prickle sensitivity in a population of 162 subjects. The initial sensation experienced by subjects with this device was the unpleasant sensation of prickle. 2. Single-unit recordings from the rabbit saphenous nerve established that at threshold most unmyelinated cutaneous receptors, both C low-threshold mechanoreceptive and polymodal nociceptive, were activated by the device. 3. Threshold measurements showed that there was no relationship of electrical threshold to atopic status, nor to fabric prickle threshold. It was concluded that our device preferentially excites unmyelinated afferents, but is not useful as a screening device for fabric intolerance.