Effects of counterirritation on experimentally produced itching

Bibliographic Data

ID19277886
AuthorsHARUYO HAMA (Doshisha University), HISAYO MINE (Doshisha University), YOSHINORI MATSUYAMA (Doshisha University)
Year1982
Volume24
Issue4
Pages188-194
Publication date1982-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJapanese Psychological Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-5368 • E-ISSN: 1468-5884
PublisherThe Japanese Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • JP)
DOI10.4992/psycholres1954.24.188
OpenAlexW2518921562
LanguageEN
References cited5

This experiment was performed to test the effects of contralateral counterirritation on itching produced by application to the skin of Japanese yam. Each of 22 subjects were exposed to all four of the following conditions: itch-stimulus plus counterirritation, itch-stimulus without counterirritation, placebo plus counterirritation, and placebo without counterirritation. Japanese yam was applied to palmar side of the subject's left forearm. The counterirritation consisted of a 20-s immersion of the right hand into a 10°C water bath. The experiment consisted of application (200 s), pre-treatment (200 s), treatment (counterirritation), and post-treatment (200 s) period. The measures were self-ratings in itching and a change in volume of dermal blood flow (DBF) near the stimulus. As for self-ratings, the itching produced by application of yam was reduced by contralateral counterirritation. The DBF levels were increased more by yam than by placebo during the period about 7 min after application, and it was decreased extremely by counterirritation. This result suggests that itch reduction by contralateral counterirritation (cold water) could be attributed to the decline of DBF levels

Anesthesia · Itching · Placebo · Stimulus (psychology) · Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization · Dermatology and Skin Diseases · Medicine · Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies · Psychology · Surgery

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