Laser evoked potential amplitude and laser-pain rating reduction during high-frequency non-noxious somatosensory stimulation

The inhibition of pain by non-nociceptive cutaneous stimulation represents a well known phenomenon. Daily experience teaches us that rubbing a painful area can reduce pain. The underlying mechanism of the analgesia induced by non-painful somatosensory stimuli has been hypothesized by Melzack and Wall in 1965 (Melzack and Wall, 1965). According to the "gate control theory of pain", it is the balance between the small diameter (C and Aδ) and large diameter (Aβ) fibres at their entrance to the spinal cord to control pain.

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