Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
09:40
Teasing Out the Interplay Between Natural Killer Cells and Nociceptor Neurons
Published on: June 30, 2022
Mismatch responses evoked by nociceptive stimuli
1Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (Ministry of Education) and School of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Psychophysiology
|December 22, 2012
Summary
Nociceptive mismatch negativity (nMMN) can be elicited by stimulating nociceptive fibers. This pain-related brain response shares topographical similarities with the auditory-based somatosensory MMN (sMMN) but differs in its timing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Perception
- Auditory and Somatosensory Processing
Background:
- The mismatch negativity (MMN) is a neurophysiological response reflecting automatic auditory change detection.
- Previous research has primarily focused on auditory MMN (aMMN), with limited investigation into somatosensory MMN (sMMN) and nociceptive MMN (nMMN).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of eliciting nMMN through nociceptive fiber stimulation.
- To compare the characteristics of nMMN with established sMMN.
Main Methods:
- Nociceptive stimuli were used to evoke brain responses.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was employed to record brain activity.
- Topographical analysis and latency measurements were performed to compare nMMN and sMMN.
Main Results:
- Nociceptive mismatch negativity (nMMN) was successfully elicited.
- nMMN exhibited a similar scalp topography to sMMN, primarily in bilateral temporal regions.
- Early negativities (100-250 ms) in nMMN showed deviancy processing independent of attention, but with later onset (182 ms) and shorter inter-hemispheric latency difference (4 ms) compared to sMMN (110 ms onset, 52 ms latency difference).
Conclusions:
- A distinct nMMN can be elicited by nociceptive stimuli.
- nMMN shares topographical similarities with sMMN, suggesting overlapping neural generators.
- Differences in onset latency and inter-hemispheric latency suggest distinct functional organizations or processing speeds between nMMN and sMMN.
Related Concept Videos
01:44Nociception
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...
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
01:16Sensory Functions of the Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
01:20Pain
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...
01:22Opioid 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...
01:25Analgesia 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...