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Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management
09:03

Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management

Published on: March 28, 2025

Central modulation of pain.

Michael H Ossipov1, Gregory O Dussor, Frank Porreca

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|November 3, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Individual pain perception varies greatly, influenced by factors beyond tissue damage. This review explores top-down neural pathways that significantly modulate the pain experience, offering insights into pain variability.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pain Research
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Individual pain perception exhibits significant variability.
  • Pain arises from nociceptor activation, but this doesn't always correlate directly with pain intensity.
  • Factors like emotion, anxiety, attention, and memory influence pain perception.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for top-down modulatory circuits in pain perception.
  • To explain the mechanisms behind the variability in pain experience.
  • To highlight the profound impact of central nervous system pathways on sensory pain.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on pain modulation.
  • Analysis of neurobiological evidence for top-down control.
  • Synthesis of psychological and neurological factors influencing pain.

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Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing
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Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management
09:03

Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management

Published on: March 28, 2025

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing
09:16

Dynamic Quantitative Sensory Testing to Characterize Central Pain Processing

Published on: February 16, 2017

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat
08:05

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

Main Results:

  • Top-down neural circuits significantly alter the sensory experience of pain.
  • Psychological and cognitive factors are integral to pain modulation.
  • The brain actively shapes pain perception, not just passively receives signals.

Conclusions:

  • Pain is a complex, subjective experience modulated by descending pathways.
  • Understanding top-down control is crucial for explaining pain variability.
  • These modulatory circuits offer potential targets for pain management strategies.