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

F. A. Lenz, M. Seike, Y. C. Lin, F. H. Baker, L. H. Rowland, R. H. Gracely, R. T. Richardson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

94 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)235-240
Number of pages6
JournalBrain research
Volume623
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 1993

Keywords

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

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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