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Brain circuits for pain and its treatment
Nicole Mercer Lindsay1,2, Chong Chen1, Gadi Gilam3
1Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC Neuroscience Center, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Science Translational Medicine
|November 10, 2021
Summary
Chronic pain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain research
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Pain is a complex, multidimensional experience impacting millions globally.
- The affective-motivational component of pain, or its unpleasantness, is a key driver of chronic pain suffering.
- Understanding the neural circuits underlying pain perception is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in understanding the neural basis of pain's multidimensionality.
- To explore the role of specific neuron types in encoding pain unpleasantness.
- To summarize current and emerging interventions for chronic pain relief.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of neuroscience and pain research.
- Analysis of studies on neural circuits involved in pain perception.
- Examination of molecularly defined neuron types and their functions.
- Review of various therapeutic interventions targeting pain pathways.
Main Results:
- Pain perception involves distinct sensory, affective, and cognitive components.
- Specific neural circuits and molecularly defined neuron types are identified that shape pain's aversive quality.
- Pharmacological, stimulation, neurofeedback, surgical, and cognitive-behavioral approaches can modulate these circuits.
Conclusions:
- A deeper understanding of pain's neural architecture is emerging.
- Targeting specific neuron types and circuits holds promise for novel pain therapies.
- Multimodal interventions show potential for alleviating chronic pain and suffering.
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