Chronic pain can cause both hyperalgesia and anxiety symptoms. However, how the two
components are encoded in the brain remains unclear. The prelimbic cortex (PrL), a critical …

The dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) has been recognized as a key cortical area for
nociceptive modulation. However, the underlying neural pathway and the function of specific …

The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) is known to relay noxious information to the
amygdala for processing affective responses. However, it is unclear whether the LPBN …

The ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) collaborates with the dorsal raphe (DR) in
pain regulation and emotional response. However, the roles of vlPAG and DR γ …

Cortical mechanisms that regulate acute or chronic pain remain poorly understood. The
prefrontal cortex (PFC) exerts crucial control of sensory and affective behaviors. Recent …

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a major role in both sensory and affective aspects
of pain. There is extensive evidence that chronic pain produces functional changes within …

The central medial nucleus (CM), a prominent cell group of the intralaminar nuclei (ILN) of
the thalamus, and the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter (vlPAG) are two major …

Noxious stimuli are detected by peripheral nociceptors and then transmitted to higher CNS
centers, where they are perceived as an unpleasant sensation. The mechanisms that govern …

As one of the thalamic midline nuclei, the thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT) is
considered to be an important signal integration site for many descending and ascending …

Neuropathic pain can be a debilitating condition with both sensory and affective
components, the underlying brain circuitry of which remains poorly understood. In the …