Mesothalamic discharge sites

The underlying electrophysiologic abnormality in patients with chronic pain syndrome is demonstrated in 2 patients whose pain and associated symptoms were incapacitating. Mechanical perturbation evoked discharges most easily at the mesodiencephalic junction. Discharging tissue at that level appears to be oriented in both the transverse and sagittal planes. Since the area of involvement is relatively large and nonspecific, it is believed that the reticular formation is the major substrate for generating and propagating the discharges.