丘脑皮层通路神经元的伤害性反应_英文_.pdfVIP

Neurosci Bull October 1, 2009, 25(5): 289-295. DOI: 10.1007/s12264-009-0908-1 289 ·Minireview· Neuronal nociceptive responses in thalamocortical pathways Fei LUO, Jin-Yan WANG Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China Abstract: The sensation of pain is critical for the survival of animals and humans. However, the brain mechanisms underlying pain perception remain largely unknown. How does the brain decode the pain-evoked activity into a particular sensory experience? Over the past decade, attempts have been made to answer these questions by employing electrophysiological, functional brain imaging, and behavioral approaches, and some basic properties of pain formation have been revealed. Researchers have gradually recognized that there exists a distributed neural network that participates in the transmission and processing of pain information. These studies will further guide the development of more effective treatment for many disorders such as chronic pain. Keywords: sensory coding; pain; thalamocortical circuit; neural network 1 Introduction form of either “grandma cell” or “homunculus”, which re- sides in the cortex and observes all that goes on below[3]? If How is pain sensation formed? It is generally thought a sensory signal is considered to be conveyed in the esthetic that any nociceptive stimulation can be perceived whenever pathway,