Neural circuits for pain: Recent advances and current views

  • Science. 2016 Nov 4;354(6312):578-584. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf8933.
Cedric Peirs  1  2 ,  Rebecca P Seal  3  2
Affiliations
  • 1. Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Avenue, BST3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
  • 2. Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
  • 3. Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Avenue, BST3, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. [email protected].
PMID: 27811268 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf8933
Abstract

The mammalian nervous system encodes many different forms of Pain, from those that arise as a result of short-term low-grade interactions with noxious thermal, chemical, or mechanical sources to more serious forms of Pain induced by trauma and disease. In this Review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the neural circuits that encode these types of Pain. Promising therapeutic strategies based on recent advances are also highlighted.