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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Neuronal Ensembles in Networks of Primary Sensory Neurons in Intact Trigeminal Ganglia
Published on: August 1, 2025
Brain activity during stimulation of the trigeminal nerve with noxious heat
Reny de Leeuw1, C Ervin Davis, Romulo Albuquerque
1Orofacial Pain Center, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0297, USA. rdele0@uky.edu
Objective:
The aim of this study was to observe areas of brain activation with painful hot stimulation to the trigeminal nerve.
Study Design:
Nine healthy pain-free women (mean age 26.2 +/- 6.9 yrs) with a natural, regular menstrual cycle participated in the study. Whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired for each participant on day 2 or 3 after the onset of menses using echo-planar imaging at 1.5T with near-isotropic spatial resolution and a temporal resolution of 4 s.
Results:
Whole-brain fMRI with a Peltier thermode inside the head coil yielded a feasible imaging protocol with little disturbance from the thermode. Painful thermal stimulation of the left trigeminal system activated discrete brain regions within the insula, cingulate gyrus, thalamus, inferior parietal lobe/postcentral gyrus, right middle and inferior frontal gyri, cuneus, precuneus, and precentral gyrus.
Conclusion:
Painful stimulation of the trigeminal nerve resulted in activation of similar brain areas generally known for pain processing of painful peripheral stimulation.
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Thermosensation
Nociception

