Method and system for modulating neural activity

A method of modulating an undesired sensation in a subject, comprising:

• receiving a signal indicative of a first activity state or a second activity state of at least a portion of the body of a subject;
• delivering a stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible modulation of neural activity in at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of the subject, the stimulus sufficient to modulate an undesired sensation resulting from neural activity in the peripheral neural structure, the stimulus delivered in response to receipt of the signal indicative of the first activity state or the second activity state of a subject, wherein the stimulus is delivered by a stimulus source positioned substantially adjacent a skin surface in the vicinity of the peripheral neural structure;
• and
• repeating delivery of the stimulus in a cyclical application pattern, the cyclical application pattern including
• a modulation period during which the stimulus is applied at least intermittently, the modulation period coinciding at least in part with the first activity state in the subject;
• and
• a release period during which no stimulus is applied, the release period coinciding at least in part with the second activity state in the subject.

A neural modulation system, comprising:

• a package configured to be secured to a portion of a body of a subject adjacent a skin surface in the vicinity of a peripheral neural structure;
• a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of the subject;
• a stimulus source, the stimulus source adapted to produce a stimulus sufficient to reversibly modulate neural activity in at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure;
• and
• a signal processing portion within the package, the signal processing portion including circuitry configured to:
• distinguish a first activity state of the subject from a second activity state of the subject based on the signal received at the signal input structure;
• and
• generate a stimulus control signal for driving production of the stimulus by the stimulus source in a cyclical application pattern in response to at least one of the first activity state and the second activity state.