neurobiology pain science

Painful traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTTN) is a chronic neuropathic pain that may develop following injury to the trigeminal nerve. Etiologies include cranio-orofacial trauma that may result from dental, surgical, or anesthetic procedures or physical trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident. Following nerve injury, there are various mechanisms, including peripheral and central, as well as phenotypic changes and genetic predispositions that may contribute to the development of neuropathic pain. In this article, we review current literature pertaining to the cellular processes that occur following traumatic damage to the trigeminal nerve, also called cranial nerve V, that results in chronic neuropathic pain...

OBJECTIVES: The acupoint LR3 (Taichong) is frequently utilized in clinical acupuncture. However, its underlying neural mechanisms remain not fully elucidated, with speculations suggesting its close association with specific brain activity patterns. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was undertaken across several online databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and the Chinese Biomedical Database...

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder with pain profile, suggesting exaggerated mechanosensation. Mechanosensitive receptors of different families, which specifically respond to various mechanical stimuli, have gathered increasing attention due to their potential role in migraine related nociception. Understanding these mechanisms is of principal importance for improved therapeutic strategies. This systematic review comprehensively examines the involvement of mechanosensitive mechanisms in migraine pain pathways...

INTRODUCTION: Various manifestations ranging from physical symptoms to cognitive and emotional impairments could often be seen following head concussions that lead to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These symptoms are commonly comprising the post-concussion syndrome (PCS) and their resolution could be influenced by multiple factors. Personality traits have been suggested as potential risk factors for the emergence and persistence of PCS. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible predisposition to PCS given by certain personality traits...

We previously found Spanish-English bilingual adults reported higher pain intensity when exposed to painful heat in the language of their stronger cultural orientation. Here, we elucidate brain systems involved in language-driven alterations in pain responses. During separate English- and Spanish-speaking fMRI scanning runs, 39 (21 female) bilingual adults rated painful heat intermixed between culturally evocative images and completed sentence reading tasks. Surveys of cultural identity and language use measured relative preference for US-American vs Hispanic culture (cultural orientation)...

The gut-brain axis is a critical communication system influencing the interactions between the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota plays a significant role in this axis, affecting the development and function of the nervous system. Stress-induced psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to the gut microbiota, but underlying mechanisms and genetic susceptibility remain unclear. In this study, we examined stress-induced changes in the gut microbiome composition in two rat strains with different levels of nervous system excitability: high threshold (HT strain) and low threshold (LT strain)...

This review explores the link between immune interactions and chronic pain, offering new perspectives on treatment. It focuses on Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors' potential in pain management. Immune cells' communication with neurons shapes neuroinflammatory responses, and JAK inhibitors' effects on pain pathways are discussed, including cytokine suppression and microglial modulation. This review integrates studies from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain and central sensitization to highlight connections between immune interactions and pain...

Parkinson's Disease (PD), treated with the dopamine precursor l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), displays motor and non-motor orofacial manifestations. We investigated the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the lateral pterygoid muscles (LPMs) and the trigeminal system related to PD-induced orofacial manifestations. A PD rat model was produced by unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the medial forebrain bundle. Abnormal involuntary movements (dyskinesia) and nociceptive responses were determined. We analyzed the immunodetection of Fos-B and microglia/astrocytes in trigeminal and facial nuclei and morphological markers in the LPMs...

A bidirectional causal relationship has been established between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and chronic headaches. Recent advances in the neurobiology of chronic pain offer a framework for understanding the comorbidity between these two conditions that might reside in the shared biomolecular mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitization. The initiation of these processes is inflammatory in nature and is most likely mediated by key molecules, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This scoping review proposes that CGRP-mediated neuroinflammation in the trigeminal ganglion may partly explain the biomolecular bidirectional link between TMDs and chronic headaches...

The neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and their receptors are linked to migraine neurobiology. Recent antimigraine therapeutics targeting the signaling of these neuropeptides are effective; however, some patients respond suboptimally, indicating an incomplete understanding of migraine pathophysiology. The CGRP- and PACAP-responsive receptors can be differentially spliced. It is known that receptor splice variants can have different pathophysiological effects in other receptor-mediated pain pathways...

Pain disrupts sleep, and sleep deprivation or interference can alter pain perception in animals and humans, for example by increasing sensitivity to pain. However, the mechanism by which sleep affects neuropathic pain remains unclear. In this review, we discuss the available evidence from the epidemiologic, clinical, and human, as well as laboratory studies. In previous studies, we have found that sleep deprivation affects various injurious systems, including opioids, dopaminergic, immune, orexins, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and adenosine...

Neuropathic pain is a prevalent condition that affects 6.9%-10% of the population and results from nerve damage due to various etiologies, such as lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, and intervertebral foramen stenosis. Although Tuina, a traditional Chinese manual therapy, has shown analgesic effects in clinical practice for the treatment of neuropathic pain, its underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Animal models are essential for elucidating the basic principles of Tuina. In this study, we propose a standardized Tuina protocol for rats with compression of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which involves inducing DRG compression by inserting a stainless steel rod into the intervertebral foramen, performing Tuina manipulation with specific parameters of location, intensity, and frequency in a controlled environment, and assessing the behavioral and histopathological outcomes of Tuina treatment...

BACKGROUND: Patient education is a recommended treatment strategy for persistent low back pain (PLBP). Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is an emerging concept with boundaries still unclear. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the PNE concept and identify its key characteristics in PLBP management. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the following databases: Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Pedro. INCLUSION CRITERIA: publications in English or French on pain neuroscience education and chronic low back pain, educational books cited in white literature...

Migraine-a primary headache-has circadian and circannual rhythms in the onset of attacks. The circadian and circannual rhythms involve the hypothalamus, which is strongly associated with pain processing in migraines. Moreover, the role of melatonin in circadian rhythms has been implied in the pathophysiology of migraines. However, the prophylactic effect of melatonin in migraines is controversial. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has recently attracted attention in the pathophysiology and treatment of migraines...

BACKGROUND: Subsequent to a diagnosis of a brain tumor, psychological distress has been associated with negative effects on mental health as well as suicidality. The magnitude of such impact has been understudied in the literature. We conducted a systematic review to examine the impact of a brain tumor on suicidality (both ideation and attempts). METHODS: In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, we searched for relevant peer-reviewed journal articles on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from inception to October 20, 2022...

Listening to music has progressively been proposed as a complementary alternative for chronic pain; understanding its properties and its neurobiological bases is urgent. We show a phenomenological investigation of a woman who has lived 20  years with chronic pain. The inquiry involved her experience of the context in which she listens to music, the intensity and quality of pain, body mapping, memories, emotions, and cognition. The participant listens to music for different reasons, such as pain and anxiety relief, motivation to exercise, and quality of sleep, but all seem to revolve around different strategies for pain management...

Killing is often an unavoidable and necessary procedure for laboratory mice involved in scientific research, and providing a humane death is vital for public acceptance. Exposure to carbon dioxide (CO2 ) gas is the most widely used methodology despite well proven welfare concerns. Consequently, the continued use of CO2 and its globally permitted status in legislation and guidelines presents an ethical dilemma for users. We investigated whether killing with hypobaric hypoxia via gradual decompression was associated with better welfare outcomes for killing laboratory mice...

Aggression can be conceptualized as any behavior, physical or verbal, that involves attacking another person or animal with the intent of causing harm, pain or injury. Because of its high prevalence worldwide, aggression has remained a central clinical and public safety issue. Aggression can be caused by several risk factors, including biological and psychological, such as genetics and mental health disorders, and socioeconomic such as education, employment, financial status, and neighborhood. Research over the past few decades has also proposed a link between alcohol consumption and aggressive behaviors...

Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic molecule found naturally in a wide range of fruits as well as in medicinal plants. It has many health benefits due to its antioxidant properties. This study focused on finding out the neurobiological effects and mechanisms of GA using published data from reputed databases. For this, data were collected from various sources, such as PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and Web of Science. The findings suggest that GA can be used to manage several neurological diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, strokes, sedation, depression, psychosis, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as neuroinflammation...

Compassion is a warm response of care and concern for those who are suffering, which drives individuals to devote their resources for the sake of others. A prominent neuroevolutionary framework grounds compassion in the neurobiology of the mammalian caregiving system. Accordingly, it has been suggested that the oxytocinergic system, which plays a central role in parental caregiving and bonding, provides the neurobiological foundation for compassion towards strangers. Yet, the specific role of oxytocin in compassion is far from clear...