Comparative effects of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous nerve stimulation on the human blink reflex.

The effects of low frequency (2 Hz) high intensity (10-12 mA) (electroacupuncture, EA) and of high frequency (100 Hz) low intensity (2 mA) (transcutaneous nerve stimulation, TNS) conditioning stimuli were studied on the nociceptive component (R2) of the blink reflex in normal volunteers. EA induced a progressive and moderate partially naloxone-reversible depression in the R2 response. In contrast, TNS induced a rapid and major depression in this reflex. In this latter case, naloxone failed to produce any reversal effect. These two patterns of data are discussed and further electrophysiological studies provide some evidence for two different mechanisms in the depressive effects of EA and TNS upon the nociceptive component of the blink reflex in man.