[Electrophysiological research on pain and itching in the clinic]

To study the central mechanisms of pain and itching, the authors performed electroencephalographic (EEG) examination in acupuncture-treated patients with diffuse neurodermatitis (n = 43) and trigeminal neuralgia (n = 25). The most characteristic EEG finding was increased synchronization of the cortical rhythm. The revealed EEG features point to the functional involvement of the thalamocortical system in the development of pain and itching. Changes of clinical and electrophysiological parameters in the course of acupuncture treatment is an additional evidence of the morphofunctional unity of the development of pain and itching.