Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 12, 2026
11:28
Recording Network Activity in Spinal Nociceptive Circuits Using Microelectrode Arrays
Published on: February 9, 2022
3.5K
Neural circuits for pain: Recent advances and current views
Cedric Peirs1,2, Rebecca P Seal3,2
1Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Avenue, BST3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 5, 2016
Summary
This review explores how the mammalian nervous system processes various pain signals, from mild irritations to severe conditions. It highlights new insights into neural circuits and potential pain management therapies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Mammalian Physiology
Background:
- The mammalian nervous system distinguishes diverse pain modalities, ranging from acute nociception to chronic pain states.
- Understanding the neural basis of pain is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding the neural circuits underlying different pain sensations.
- To highlight emerging therapeutic strategies for pain management based on new scientific findings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research on pain encoding neural circuits.
- Synthesis of findings related to thermal, chemical, mechanical, trauma, and disease-induced pain.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in mapping the specific neural pathways involved in various pain types.
- Identification of key molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to pain perception.
Conclusions:
- Recent discoveries offer a deeper understanding of pain neurobiology.
- These advances provide a foundation for novel and targeted pain therapeutics.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Pain
1.7K
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...
1.7K
01:44Nociception
33.8K
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.
33.8K
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
2.6K
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...
2.6K
01:25Neural Circuits
3.1K
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
3.1K
01:29Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways
9.2K
Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...
9.2K