New look at how the brain locates pain

Is the pain in the chest actually caused by a heart attack or indigestion? A new study from Wake Forest University of Medicine reveals the possibility of more areas of the brain involved in determining the location of pain than we thought.

According to Dr. Robert Coghill, senior researcher of this study - and also a neurologist at Wake Forest University of Medicine - the location of the pain is a common problem in diagnosis. For example, patients do not always distinguish whether they are suffering from gastrointestinal disorders or heart attacks. The pain caused by damaged nerves is often felt in places other than the damaged area. And in some cases an injury on one side of the body causes pain on both sides.

Professor Coghill said: 'The scientific knowledge of the location of the pain is so narrow that patients with systemic pain are often sent to psychological treatment rather than going to the hospital to cut the pain. This study extends the understanding of the location in the brain "where" the position corresponding to the pain is being treated. This is not as simple as we think. The inner parts of the brain that control the location of the pain are now very similar to the visual and hearing sensing parts. '

The path to the brain of pain
(Photo: wildirismedicaleducation)

The new finding mentioned in this week's issue of the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that there are many areas of the brain that are involved in determining the location of pain achieved by using fMRI - tissue. image simulated negative field reflection function - a technique to show brain activity when a certain task is being performed.

The study was conducted with 12 healthy volunteers between the ages of 22 and 39. Two heat-stimulating devices were spaced 1.5 to 6 inches apart on each participant's lower leg. One of the 2 devices will be activated at temperatures between 95 - 120 ^o C during the fMRI method. Every 30 seconds, one of the two devices will be activated, then each participant will be asked to press a signal button to indicate the activation of the second pain in the same or different position compared to the activation. head.

According to a leading research author, Dr. Yoshitetsu Oshiro, with current common knowledge, some areas of the brain, including the cortical area of ​​heat sensitivity and exposure, are involved in locating pain. However, MRI testing techniques show other areas of the brain, still known as the system for receiving intermediate pain and emotional expression of pain, also involved in locating of pain.

Mr. Oshiro also added: 'This is amazing. We did not fully understand the pain and the more effective treatments really needed. The shift from the results of this study is important to bring relevant research and therapies in the right direction. '

Professor Coghill agrees, saying: 'The entire system of brain regions lights up when the subject senses the position of stimulation. We are proving something very new and different from previous knowledge. The regions of the brain, previously known to be involved in the emotional processing of pain, are also involved in locating pain. This finding gives us a new global perspective when considering the location of pain . " He also said: " This study shows that the sensory experience is based on a comparative basis. News is about to be received with previously experienced information and the collection of such information gives us a complete sensory experience for information coming from the nervous system. '

This research is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Other researchers involved in the work include Alexandre Quevedo, Doctor of Dentistry, Dr. John McHaffie, Dr. Robert Kraft, all from Wake Forest School.

Thien Kim