Essays

Functional neuroanatomy of nociception and pain

ANA HLADNIK ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Šalata 11, Zagreb, Croatia
IVANA BIČANIĆ ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Šalata 11, Zagreb, Croatia
ZDRAVKO PETANJEK ; University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Šalata 11, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Pain is a complex sensory state based on the integration of a variety of nociceptive inputs processed centrally through many parallel and overlapping neural systems. The traditional anatomical concept implies that nociceptive information is dominantly used to generate and regulate perception of pain through one major sensory pathway. It becomes recognized that experiencing the affective component of the pain is at least as important as perception. Also, nociceptive information is strongly influencing brain centers for regulating
homeostasis. So, understanding neuroanatomical organization of
central processing of nociceptive information is of great clinical importance. There is an attempt to simplify this complex set of interacting networks to a core set of brain regions or a generalizable pain signature. Herewith we wish to give a short overview of recent advances by presenting principles about neuroanatomical organization for processing various aspects of nociceptive
inputs.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

140409

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/140409

Publication date:

10.6.2015.

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