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Stanford scientists have temporarily disabled the brain cells responsible for the emotional experience of pain. They hope this could lead to future treatment of chronic pain. ( pixabay )
A team of scientists from Stanford University identified the brain cells responsible for the pain experience in mice.
During further research, the team was able to modify the cells responsible for the pain, making it less unpleasant without completely eliminating the sensation. They believe this paves the way for future treatment of chronic pain.
The articles have been published in the journal Science.
Ease the pain
The team of scientists used brain imaging and molecular tests to probe the mouse brain to determine the area responsible for the emotional experience of pain. They found it in the amygdala, the region of the brain that treats emotion and fear.
The team explained that a set of cells in the amygdala seemed to work specifically as an "on / off switch" of pain.
"With this setup, we identified a group of neurons in the amygdala that selectively codes signals related to the emotional aspects of a painful experience," says Mark Schnitzer, an badociate professor of biology and applied physics at Stanford and author of the research.
The team of scientists conducted several experiments to determine if the cells were actually responsible for the emotional experience of the pain. In one experiment, they temporarily disabled the neuron beam of pain in the amygdala in selected mice. Scientists found that even though the mice felt the physical sensation of pain, they did not find it any more unpleasant.
A cure for chronic pain
The pain is necessary so that the body is alert and prevents it from further harm. However, people with chronic pain experience an uncomfortable feeling without danger.
While for the moment, the brain cells responsible for the emotional experience of pain have only been found in mice, the researchers believe that it would also be found at home. ;man. They explained that the function of the whole basolateral is similar in mice and in humans.
The team of scientists hopes that this will lead to the development of a treatment for chronic pain. Gregory Scherrer, an badistant professor of anesthesiology and neurosurgery at Stanford and author of the study, said that chronic pain was one of the factors of the current opioid crisis in the world.
"Our great hope for the future is that cells from the basolateral set can be a tactic to fight pain without causing dependence and therefore ideally to replace opioid treatment," Scherrer said. .
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