The EEG Study of Tattoo Induced Pain

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of oscillatory EEG activity study while pain related processing. We observed a spatial evolution of sensorimotor alpha-rhythm event related desynchronization (ERD) evoked by pain-stimuli application during right hand tattooing. We observed the significant ERD increase in channels over the ipsilateral hemisphere. After the tattoo session tactile stimulation of the affected hand the fronto-central event related synchronization (ERS) in alpha-range was developed. This effect seems demonstrated the dependency on the tattoo experience. We suppose that fronto-central ERS can reflect inhibition in the primary motor cortex in response to pain perception. These results are discussed regarding the role of primary motor cortex in pain relief and long-term effects of tattooing related pain stimulation. The results provide the neurophysiological basis to use tattoo-induced pain stimuli in further research of pain perception.