ASTRO-110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Periaqueductal Gray, Neuropathic Pain, Analgesic
22 Sep 2020
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Document Summary
Perception of pain is said to be paradoxical. An experience that seems to be so bad is extremely important for our survival. It"s a response to potentially harmful situation of any type and it warns us to stop engaging in potentially harmful activities or to seek treatment. Lack of clear cortical representation of pain. Painful stimuli activate many areas of cortex including the thalamus, si and sii, the insula and anterior cingulate cortex. Anterior cingulate cortex cortical area that has been most frequently. Anterior cingulate cortex appears to be involved in the expectation of pain, emotional reaction to pain and adaptive responses to minimize pain rather than perception of pain itself. Can be very effectively suppressed by cognitive and emotional factors. Three discoveries led to the identification of a descending pain control circuit. Electrical stimulation of the periaqueductal gray (pag) has pain blocking effects. Pag and other areas of the brain contain specialized receptors for opioid analgesic drugs like morphine.
