The aim of the study was to determine whether
transcranial direct current stimulation (
tDCS) reduced
pain and signs of central sensitization induced by low frequency electrical stimulation in healthy volunteers. Thirty-nine participants received
tDCS stimulation under 4 different conditions: anodal
tDCS of the primary motor cortex (M1), anodal
tDCS of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anodal
tDCS over M1 and DLPFC concurrently, and
sham tDCS. Participants were blind to the
tDCS condition. The order of the conditions was randomized among participants.
Pain ratings to pinpricks, the current level that evoked moderate
pain, and
pain induced by low frequency electrical stimulation were assessed in the forearm by an experimenter who was blind to the
tDCS conditions. Anodal
tDCS at M1 increased the current level that evoked moderate
pain compared to
sham and other conditions. Anodal
tDCS of DLPFC completely abolished secondary
hyperalgesia. Unexpectedly, however, concurrent anodal
tDCS over M1 and DLPFC did not reduce
pain or
hyperalgesia more than M1 alone or DLPFC alone. Overall, these findings suggest that anodal
tDCS over M1 suppresses
pain, and that anodal
tDCS over DLPFC modulates secondary
hyperalgesia (a sign of central sensitization) in healthy participants. PERSPECTIVE: Anodal transcranial current stimulation (atDCS) at the left motor cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex increased the electrically-evoked pain threshold and reduced secondary
hyperalgesia in healthy participants. Replication of this study in
chronic pain populations may open more avenues for
chronic pain treatment.