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Subcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Field Stimulation for Refractory Facial Pain
Published on: May 10, 2017
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Transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation modulates the hand blink reflex.
Beniamina Mercante1, Nicola Loi1, Francesca Ginatempo1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/b, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Scientific Reports
|December 4, 2020
Summary
Transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) significantly reduced the hand-blink reflex (HBR), a measure of facial defensive peripersonal space. This suggests TNS influences the brainstem, impacting facial protective reflexes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Somatosensory research
- Reflex studies
Background:
- The hand-blink reflex (HBR) models facial defensive peripersonal space (DPPS).
- The impact of facial afferent stimulation on DPPS remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how non-painful transcutaneous trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) affects HBR amplitude.
- To determine if TNS modulates the DPPS of the face.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen healthy participants received real and sham TNS bilaterally to the infraorbital nerve.
- HBR was recorded from orbicularis oculi muscles before and after TNS.
- HBR amplitude was measured in hand-near and hand-far conditions.
Main Results:
- Real TNS significantly reduced HBR amplitude.
- Sham TNS showed no significant effect on HBR.
- The reduction in HBR was consistent across both hand-near and hand-far conditions.
Conclusions:
- Non-painful TNS exerts an inhibitory effect on the HBR.
- This suggests TNS acts primarily at the brainstem level to modulate facial protective reflexes.
