Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

3D Topographic Study of the Diode Laser Evoked Potentials (LEPs) to Painful Stimulation of the Trigeminal Sensory Area

  • Published:
Brain Topography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A diode laser attached with an optic fiber is flexible and adequate for painful cutaneous stimulation. The brain potentials elicited by diode laser stimulation reflect activation of thin-myelinated afferent fibers. This study examined the use of diode laser evoked potentials (LEPs) elicited from the left/right ophthalmic and maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve. Twelve males (age: 26.3 ± 4.5) participated in this study. A 20W diode laser (980 nm wavelength, 0.5 mm spot diameter) was used for stimulation. The stimulus duration was 250 ms, and inter-stimulus interval was 5 sec. The stimulus intensity was tailored to each individual eliciting mild pinprick pain. Fifty stimuli were delivered to each of the four stimulation sites. A total of 32 channels EEG (-1024 ms to 2048 ms) was recorded. The grand mean averages were evaluated using 3D topographic brain maps. Repeated measure ANOVA was used for statistical comparisons. Ten out of the 12 subjects resulted in a vertex component with major activations described as a negativity (-6.15 to -7.52 mV) peaking around 370 ms and a positivity (14.22 to16.29 mV) peaking around 500 ms. This vertex potential reflected activation of the thin A-delta fiber innervating thermal and nociceptive receptors in the face. This vertex potential to diode laser stimulation may be applicable in clinical studies in patients with neurological affections of the trigeminal nerves or nucleus e.g. before and after surgery. The diode laser may be very useful for clinical neurophysiological purposes due to its applicability and user-friendly function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arendt-Nielsen, L., Gregersen, H., Toft, E. and Bjerring, P. Involvement of thin afferents in carpal tunnel syndrome: evaluated quantitatively by argon laser stimulation. Muscle and Nerve, 1991, 14: 508-514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arendt-Nielsen, L. First pain event related potentials to argon laser stimuli: recording and quantification. Journal ofNeurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 1990a, 53: 398-404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arendt-Nielsen, L. Second pain event related potentials to argon laser stimuli: recording and quantification. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 1990b, 53: 405-410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arendt-Nielsen, L. Characteristics, detection, and modulation of laser-evoked vertex potentials. Acta. Anaesthesiol. Scand. (Suppl.), 1994, 101: 7-44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arendt-Nielsen, L. Induction and assessment of experimental pain fromhuman skin, muscle, and viscera. Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on pain, progress in pain research and management, Vol. 8, edited by T.S. Jensen, J.A. Turner, and Z. Wiesenfeld-Hallin, IASP press, Seattle, 1997: 393-425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromm, B. and Treede, R.D. Human cerebral potentials evoked by CO2 laser stimuli causing pain. Exp. Brain Res., 1987, 67(1): 153-162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromm, B. and Chen, A.C. Brain electrical source analysis of laser evoked potentials in response to painful trigeminal nerve stimulation. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1995, 95(1): 14-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casey, K.L., Beydoun, A., Boivie, J., Sjolund, B., Holmgren, H., Leijon, G., Morrow, T.J. and Rosen, I. Laser-evoked cerebral potentials and sensory function in patients with central pain. Pain, 1996, 64: 485-491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, A.C.N., Arendt-Nielsen, L. and Plaghki, L. Laser evoked potentials in human pain. I. Use and possible misuse. Pain Forum, 1998a, 7(4): 174-184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, A.C.N., Arendt-Nielsen, L. and Plaghki, L. Understanding of human pain in the brain through topographic mapping and quantification of laser-evoked potentials. An integration. Pain Forum, 1998b, 7(4): 196-200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruccu, G., Leandri, M., Iannetti, G.D., Mascia, A., Romaniello, A., Truini, A., Galeotti, F. and Manfredi, M. Small-fiber dysfunction in trigeminal neuralgia: carbamazepine effect on laser-evoked potentials. Neurology, 2001, 26;56(12): 1722-1726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruccu, G., Pennisi, E., Truini, A., Iannetti, G.D., Romaniello, A., Le Pera, D., De Armas, L., Leandri, M., Manfredi, M. and Valeriani, M. Unmyelinated trigeminal pathways as assessed by laser stimuli in humans. Brain, 2003, (In press).

  • Dubner, R. Neural basis of persistent pain: sensory specialization, sensory modulation, and neuronal plasticity. Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Pain, Progress in Pain Research and Management, Vol. 8, edited by T.S. Jensen, J.A. Turner and Z. Wiesenfeld-Hallin, IASP Press, Seattle, 1997.

  • Garcia-Larrea, L., Convers, P., Magnin, M., Andre-Obadia, N., Peyron, R., Laurent, B. and Mauguiere, F. Laser-evoked potential abnormalities in central pain patients: the influence of spontaneous and provoked pain. Brain, 2002, 125: 2766-2781.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, S.J., LeVasseur, S.A. and Helme, R.D. Cerebral event related responses induced byCO2laser stimulation in subjects suffering from cervico-brachial syndrome. Pain, 1991, 47: 173-182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greffrath, W., Nemenov, M.I., Schwarz, S., Baumgartner, U., Vogel, H., Arendt-Nielsen, L. and Treede, R.D. Inward currents in primary nociceptive neurons of the rat and pain sensations in humans elicited by infrared diode laser pulses. Pain, 2002 Sep., 99(1-2): 145-55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gülsoy, M., Durak, K., Kurt, A., Karamursel, S. and Cilesiz, I. The 980-nm diode laser as anewstimulant for laser evoked potentials studies. Lasers Surg. Med., 2001, 28(3): 244-247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakigi, R., Kuroda, Y., Neshige, R., Endo, C. and Shibasaki, H. Physiological study of the spinothalamic tract conduction in multiple sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 1992a, 107: 205-209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakigi, R., Shibasaki, H., Ikeda, T., Neshige, R., Endo, C. and Kuroda, Y. Pain-related somatosensory evoked potentials following CO2 laser stimulation in peripheral neuropathies. Acta. Neurol. Scand., 1992b, 85: 347-352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakigi, R., Shibasaki, H., Kuroda, Y., Neshige, R., Endo, C., Tabuchi, K. and Kishikawa, T. Pain-related somatosensory evoked potentials in syrengomyelia. Brain, 1991a, 114: 1871-1889.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakigi, R., Shibasaki, H., Tanaka, K., Ikeda, T., Oda, K.I., Endo, C., Ikeda, A., Neshige, R., Kuroda, Y., Miyata, K., Yi, S., Ikegawa, S. and Araki, S. CO2 laser-induced pain-related somatosensory evoked potentials in peripheral neuropathies: Correlation between electrophysiological and histopathological findings. Muscle and Nerve, 1991b, 14: 441-450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Konen, M. Measurement of nerve dysfunction in neuropathic pain. Current Review of Pain, 2000, 4: 388-394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lefaucheur, J.P., Debray, S. and Jarry, G. Laser evoked potentials using the Nd:YAG laser. Muscle and Nerve, 2001, 24(4): 496-501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann, D. and Skrandies, W. Spatial analysis of evoked potentials inman-areview. Prog. Neurobiol., 1984, 23(3): 227-250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, R.A., Walker, R.E. and Mountcastle, V.B.Jr. A laser stimulator for the study of cutaneous thermal and pain sensations. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., 1976, 23(1): 54-60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mor, J. and Carmon, A. Laser emitted radiant heat for pain research. Pain, 1975, 1(3): 233-237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romaniello, A., Cruccu, G., Frisardi, G., Arendt-Nielsen, L. and Svensson, P. Assessment of nociceptive trigeminal pathways by laser-evoked potentials and laser silent periods in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders. Pain, 2003, 103(1-2): 31-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skrandies, W. Global field power and topographic similarity. Brain Topogr. 1990 Fall, 3(1): 137-141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel, J., Hansen, C. and Treed, R.D. Clinical evaluation criteria for the assessment of impaired pain sensitivity by thulium-laser evoked potentials. Clin. Neurophysiol., 2000, 111(4): 725-735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, P., Bjerring, P., Arendt-Nielsen, L., Nielsen, J.C. and Kaaber, S. Comparison of four laser types for experimental pain stimulation on oral mucosa and hairy skin. Lasers Surg. Med., 1991, 11(4): 313-324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treede, R.D., Lankers, J., Frieling, A., Zangemeister, W.H., Kunze, K. and Bromm, B. Cerebral potentials evoked by painful laser stimuli in patients with syringomyelia. Brain, 1991, 114: 1595-1607.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treede, R.D., Magerl, W. and Baumgartner, U. Laser-evoked potentials for assessment of nociceptive pathways in humans. Pain Forum, 1998, 7(4): 191-195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truini, A., Haanpaa, M., Zucchi, R., Galeotti, F., Iannetti, G.D., Romaniello, A. and Cruccu, G. Laser-evoked potentials in post-herpetic neuralgia. Clin. Neurophysiol., 2003, 114(4): 702-709.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valeriani, M., Restuccia, D., Le Pera, D., De Armas, L., Maiese, T. and Tonali, P. Attention-related modifications of ultra-late CO(2) laser evoked potentials to human trigeminal nerve stimulation. Neurosci. Lett., 2002, 6, 329(3): 329-333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welch, K.M. Concepts of migraine headache pathogenesis: insights into mechanisms of chronicity and new drug targets. Neurol. Sci., 2003, 24Suppl 2: 149-153.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Kadir Durak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew C.N. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lars Arendt-Nielsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Durak, K., Chen, A.C. & Arendt-Nielsen, L. 3D Topographic Study of the Diode Laser Evoked Potentials (LEPs) to Painful Stimulation of the Trigeminal Sensory Area. Brain Topogr 16, 133–138 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BRAT.0000019182.45048.ba

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BRAT.0000019182.45048.ba

Search

Navigation