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Related Experiment Video

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Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

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Chronic pain: lost inhibition?

Luke A Henderson¹, Chris C Peck, Esben T Petersen

¹Department of Anatomy and Histology and Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. lukeh@anatomy.usyd.edu.au

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|April 26, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chronic neuropathic pain is linked to changes in the thalamus, a key brain region. This study found reduced thalamus volume and altered activity, potentially causing persistent pain perception.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Medical Imaging
Pain Research

Background:

Acute pain involves widespread brain network activation.
Chronic pain, especially neuropathic pain, shows minimal brain activity changes in studies.
Neuropathic pain may stem from misinterpreting thalamocortical activity, with altered rhythms observed.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate central brain changes in subjects with trigeminal neuropathic pain using advanced imaging.
To explore the role of the thalamus in chronic neuropathic pain.

Main Methods:

Utilized voxel-based morphometry to assess thalamus volume.
Employed quantitative arterial spin labeling to measure thalamic and cortical activity.
Applied magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine inhibitory neurotransmitter content.
Analyzed functional connectivity between thalamus and cortical regions.

Main Results:

Significant somatosensory thalamus volume loss was observed in individuals with chronic neuropathic pain.
Decreased activity in the thalamic reticular nucleus and primary somatosensory cortex was detected.
Reduced thalamic inhibitory neurotransmitter content correlated with altered functional connectivity.

Conclusions:

Chronic neuropathic pain is associated with structural and functional alterations in the thalamus.
These thalamic changes may disrupt thalamocortical circuits, leading to the continuous perception of pain.