Directional discrimination is better for noxious laser stimuli than for innocuous laser stimuli

Background The directional discrimination is lower for painful laser heat compared to non‐painful mechanical stimulation. The aim of the current study was to investigate how the directional discrimination of radiant heat stimulation depends on stimulation intensity and displacement velocity. Methods Fifteen healthy subjects were stimulated in the right volar forearm with a CO2 laser at intensities that were expected to be either painful (46°C) or non‐painful (39°C). The laser beam was continuously displaced distal‐proximally along the arm during the stimulation. After the stimulation, subjects indicated the perceived direction and intensity (NRS: 0: perception 3: pain 10: maximum pain). Stimulations were delivered with five lengths (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mm) and three velocities (10, 30 and 100 mm/s). To estimate the directional discrimination threshold (DDT) the data were fitted to a sigmoidal curve. Results For the lower intensity (39°C) the DDT was 81.8 mm for the slowest velocity, and above 100 mm for the two faster velocities. For the higher intensity (46°C) the DDT was 58.8 and 69.6 mm for the slowest velocity and middle velocity, respectively, and above 100 mm for the fastest velocity. The perceived intensity increased with stimulation length, stimulation intensity and decreasing velocity (LMM, p