Cortico-subcortical activation patterns for itch and pain imagery

Hideki Mochizuki1, Ulf Baumgärtner, Sandra Kamping

  • 1Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.

Pain
|June 18, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Brain imaging reveals that while both itch and pain activate similar brain regions, their functional networks differ. These distinct neural pathways may explain why itch sensations are more socially contagious than pain.

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