Pain StimulationThe Effect of the Nature And Frequency of a Stimulation on the Amplitude of the Temporal Summation of Pain

Temporal summation is a mechanism that enhances pain perception. It is a natural mechanism present in most individuals. Generally, temporal summation is measured by the application of a moderately painful stimulation for several seconds.However, there is still no official recommendation in the literature. There is therefore a great disparity in the protocols. Some studies apply thermal stimulation (heating the skin) while others apply mechanical stimulation (applying pressure). Another point of contention is that some studies apply continuous stimulation for 2 minutes while others apply a series of several small stimulation of 1 second). Between these studies, the amplitude of temporal summation varies according to the stimulation performed. Note also that the study population is also very different between studies. In these conditions, it remains difficult to know the impact of the nature of the stimulation on the measured amplitude of the temporal summation.