AN ELECTROMECHANICAL STIMULATOR SYSTEM FOR NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF PAIN

We have developed a computer-based electromechanical stimulator system suited for neurophysiological and psychophysical studies of pain. The core of the stimulator is a servo-controlled linear motor capable of generating 1 kg of force over a 22-mm range. Forces collinear and tangential to the interchangeable probe tip are calculated using the signal from 3 load cells (resolution: 1/8 g; range: 250 g) arranged in an equilateral triangle. Probe position is measured with an optical encoder (resolution: 1 mu m; range: 25 mm). A microprocessor-based digital control system permits smooth switching of feedback control between force or position at the 1-kHz update rate. The stimulator is mounted on a microprocessor-controlled 3-axis translation system that allows automatic movement of the probe over a range of greater than 15 cm to an accuracy of better than 10 mu m. The stimulator can be programmed to move in a coordinate system parallel to the skin surface being examined. An IBM-compatible computer is used to command stimulus paradigms and to display real-time motor performance and neural spike-train data. The system has been used to measure the response of nociceptive afferents in monkey to controlled force stimuli applied to various positions within the receptive field.