Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 623, Issue 2, 1 October 1993, Pages 235-240
Brain Research

Neurons in the area of human thalamic nucleus ventralis caudalis respond to painful heat stimuli

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(93)91433-SGet rights and content
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Abstract

A population of neurons in the area of human thalamic nucleus ventralis caudalis (Vc) respond to noxious heat stimuli. In the cutaneous core of Vc 6% (6/108) of recorded neurons had a significantly greater response to noxious eat stimuli than to innocuous control stimuli. Half of these neurons (n = 3) also responded to innocuous cold stimuli. Within the region posterior and inferior to the cutaneous core of Vc 5% (4/77) of neurons responded exclusively to noxious heat stimuli. Cells responding to noxious heat were recorded at a greater proportion (66%) of sites where painful sensations were evoked by microstimulation than at sites where nonpainful sensations were evoked (1.5%). The results suggests that neurons in the region of human Vc mediate the sensory aspect of pain.

Keywords

Pain
Human thalamus
Ventral posterior nucleus
Microstimulation
Wide dynamic range ccell
High threshold cell
Single neuron analysis
Thermoreception

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