Visceral pain evoked by thalamic microstimulation in humans

Microstimulation within and below the ventrocaudal nucleus (Vc) in the human thalamus typically evokes non-painful, paraesthetic cutaneous sensations. We now describe cases in which thalamic microstimulation evoked visceral pains. Data were obtained during stereotactic thalamotomy procedures. Patient 211 had a history of essential tremor. At a site 0.5 mm ventroposterior to Vc, microstimulation elicited pain described as 'deep, internal, in a straight line like my appendix pain years ago'. Patient 153 had a history of post-stroke hemibody pain. In each of two trajectories, at sites approximately 2 mm ventroposterior to Vc, microstimulation evoked pain in the groin. At one of these sites, the pain was described as 'like having a baby'. These and additional observations suggest that stimulation ventroposterior to Vc can evoke visceral pain and may trigger pain 'memories'.