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Related Concept Videos

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...
Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

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...
Sensory Functions of the Skin01:16

Sensory Functions of the Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...
Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System01:11

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Spinal Cord: Information Processing01:10

Spinal Cord: Information Processing

The spinal cord is an integral hub for motor and sensory information that enables the brain to communicate with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This communication consists of relaying sensory data and transmission of motor commands.
Sensory Information Processing
Sensory information processing begins at the sensory receptors located in the skin and other tissues, which detect somatic sensory stimuli such as touch, temperature, or pain. These receptors function as catalysts, initiating...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors
04:59

Cheek Injection Model for Simultaneous Measurement of Pain and Itch-related Behaviors

Published on: September 27, 2019

Supraspinal Circuit Mechanisms Underlying Itch Processing.

Yuncheng Luo1,2, Hao-Di Tang1,2, Ping Liao1,2

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
|July 10, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Supraspinal brain networks modulate itch perception and emotional components, overlapping with but distinct from pain pathways. Understanding these central itch circuits offers new therapeutic targets for chronic itch.

Keywords:
brain circuitscontagious itchemotionitchpain

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Last Updated: Jul 12, 2026

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Published on: September 27, 2019

Recording Network Activity in Spinal Nociceptive Circuits Using Microelectrode Arrays
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Published on: January 18, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Processing

Background:

  • Itch and pain are distinct sensations sharing peripheral pathways.
  • Supraspinal mechanisms of itch are less understood than pain, hindering central therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent mechanistic studies on supraspinal circuits underlying itch perception and modulation.
  • To elucidate the central processing of itch and its interaction with pain.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of mechanistic studies, primarily from rodent models.
  • Literature search using targeted databases and reference tracking.

Main Results:

  • Itch is encoded by distributed brain networks influencing sensory and emotional aspects.
  • Supraspinal itch networks partially overlap with, but are distinct from, pain networks.
  • Interactions between itch, pain, and other sensory modalities highlight complex central integration.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding supraspinal itch circuits provides insights into central sensory processing.
  • Identifying interactions with pain pathways may reveal novel therapeutic targets for chronic itch.