Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 363, Issue 2, 10 June 2004, Pages 157-162
Neuroscience Letters

Human exposure to a specific pulsed magnetic field: effects on thermal sensory and pain thresholds

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2004.03.069Get rights and content

Abstract

Exposure to pulsed magnetic fields (MF) has been shown to have a therapeutic benefit in both animals (e.g. mice, snails) and humans. The current study investigated the potential analgesic benefit of MF exposure on sensory and pain thresholds following experimentally induced warm and hot sensations. Thirty-nine subjects (Study 1) and 31 subjects (Study 2) were randomly and double-blindly assigned to 30 min of MF or sham exposure between two sets of tests of sensory and pain thresholds and latencies at, 1 °C above, and 2 °C above pain thresholds. Results indicated that MF exposure does not affect sensory thresholds [e.g. F(1,31)=0.073, NS]. Pain thresholds were significantly increased following MF exposure [F(1,16)=9.45, P<0.01] but not following sham exposure [F(1,14)=4.22, NS]. A significant condition by gender interaction existed for post-exposure pain thresholds [F(1,27)=5.188, P<0.05]. Taken together, these results indicate that MF exposure does not affect basic human perception, but can increase pain thresholds in a manner indicative of an analgesic response. The potential involvement of the placebo effect is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr Yves Bureau (statistical analyses), Ms Jennifer Hensel (randomization), Mr Lynn Keenliside (technical assistance), Dr Stefan Lautenbacher (theoretical assistance), Mr John Robertson (randomization), and Dr Gary Rollman (theoretical assistance) for their assistance with these studies. This study was funded by Lawson Health Research Institute; St. Joseph's Health Care (SJHC – London) Foundation; Department of Nuclear Medicine, SJHC; Natural Sciences and Engineering

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