Affiliation:
1. Neuroscience Research Institute and Department of Neurobiology , School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University , Beijing , China
2. Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health Commission, Peking University , Beijing , China
Abstract
Abstract
Spontaneous pain occurring without apparent external stimuli, is a significant complaint of individuals with chronic pain whose mechanisms, somewhat surprisingly, remain poorly understood. Over the past decades, neuroimaging studies start to reveal brain activities accompanying spontaneous pain. Meanwhile, a variety of animal models and behavioral tests have been established, including non-reflexive tests and free-choice tests, which have been shown to be effective in assessing spontaneous pain. For the spontaneous pain mechanisms, multiple lines of research mainly focus on three aspects: (1) sensitization of peripheral nociceptor receptors and ion channels, (2) spontaneous neuronal firing and abnormal activity patterns at the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord level, (3) functional and structural alterations in the brain, particularly the limbic system and the medial pain pathway. Despite accumulating evidence revealing distinct neuronal mechanisms from evoked pain, we are still far from full understanding of spontaneous pain, leaving a big gap between bench and bedside for chronic pain treatment. A better understanding of the neural processes in chronic pain, with specific linkage as to which anatomical structures and molecules related to spontaneous pain perception and comorbidities, will greatly improve our ability to develop novel therapeutics.
Funder
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality
Interdisciplinary Medicine Seed Fund of Peking University
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Center for Life Sciences
Cited by
3 articles.
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