Table 2.

Effects of pinching and scratching counterstimuli on mean firing frequencies of VcTT neurons during baseline conditions and during responses to pruritogens

Counterstimulus	Before (10 s)	During (10 s)	After (10 s)
Pinch (baseline)	2.5 ± 0.7	22.9 ± 4.7	10.1 ± 3.2*
Pinch (during pruriceptive responses)	14.3 ± 3.7	40.8 ± 4.9	18.4 ± 4.1
Scratching (baseline)	5.1 ± 2.4	24.8 ± 5.1	4.7 ± 1.7
Scratching (during pruriceptive responses)	14.6 ± 3.3	29.8 ± 4.1	8.3 ± 2.0*

Values are mean firing levels (in spikes/s) during the 10-s periods before, during, and after mechanical counterstimuli. Pinch during baseline significantly increased firing. Scratching during pruriceptive responses significantly reduced the firing rate.

^*P < 0.05.