BARORECEPTOR STIMULATION - PAIN PERCEPTION AND SENSORY THRESHOLDS

Baroreceptor activity has been implicated in the modulation of pain. S ensory detection thresholds and pain ratings were measured in a group of 28 men during carotid baroreceptor manipulation with the PRES (phas e-related external suction) neck suction technique. Brief, cardiac pha se-related electrical impulses were delivered intracutaneously to the finger. The results indicate that minimum baroreceptor activity was as sociated with more severe pain, but had no effect on sensory detection threshold. The results are discussed in terms of the learned model of hypertension.