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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents

Intracranial Pharmacotherapy and Pain Assays in Rodents

Published on: April 9, 2019

Cerebral cortex modulation of pain.

Yu-feng Xie¹, Fu-quan Huo, Jing-shi Tang

¹Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an Jiao-tong University, Xi'an 710061, China. yufeng71@gmail.com

Acta Pharmacologica Sinica

|December 17, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The cerebral cortex plays a crucial role in pain perception, involving multiple brain regions and neurotransmitters. Research highlights glial cells

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Pain Research

Background:

Traditionally, the cerebral cortex was not considered involved in pain perception.
Recent decades have revealed an extensive cortical network for pain processing.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent studies on pain modulation by cerebral cortical structures.
To discuss the role of neurotransmitters and glial cells in cortical pain modulation.

Main Methods:

Review of multiple methods used to study pain processing.
Analysis of studies in both animal models and human subjects.

Main Results:

Identified key cortical structures: anterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex, somatosensory cortices (SI, SII), ventrolateral orbital cortex, and motor cortex.
Highlighted the involvement of neurotransmitters like opioids, glutamate, GABA, and dopamine.
Indicated potential roles for glial cells in cortical pain modulation.

Conclusions:

The cerebral cortex is integral to pain perception, encompassing sensory, affective, and cognitive components.
Cortical pain modulation involves complex interactions between neural networks and neurochemicals.
Glial cells represent a promising target for future pain management strategies.