Psychophysics of Sensations Evoked by Stimulation of the Human Central Nervous System

摘要: The forebrain neuronal system signaling pain has been poorly characterized. We now show that stimulation of thalamic pain-related nuclei in awake humans produces two different responses. first is a binary response which constant painful sensation evoked regardless the pattern stimulation. second an analog nonpainful and sensations are graded with intensity stimulus, better defined than first, both qualitatively spatially. These results consistent those functional imaging studies have identified brain regions activated fashion by particular while further increases stimulus do not produce increased activation. Binary sites may participate all or none attentional cognitive aspects pain. Stimulation these also mediate memories emotional aspect intense chronic sometimes from pains. spinothalamic tract, suggests they involve conditioning structures, rather simple activation structures stimulus.