Short duration pre-pulsing to reduce stimulation-evoked side effects

A neurostimulation system, comprising:

• a plurality of electrical contacts configured for being in electrical communication with a plurality of electrodes placed adjacent a region of tissue;
• analog output circuitry configured for outputting electrical pulses to the plurality of electrical contacts in accordance with a pulse pattern;
• and
• control circuitry configured for defining the pulse pattern, such that the electrical pulses comprise a sub-threshold, conditioning, pre-pulse outputted to a first one of the electrical contacts, a stimulation pulse outputted to a second different one of the electrical contacts, and a sub-threshold, conditioning, post-pulse outputted to the first one of the electrical contacts, wherein a duration between the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse and the stimulation pulse is such that the region of tissue is rendered less excitable to the stimulation pulse, and the duration between the sub-threshold, conditioning post-pulse and the stimulation pulse is such that the region of tissue is further rendered less excitable to the stimulation pulse.