title: Neurons in the area of human thalamic nucleus ventralis caudalis respond to painful heat stimuli.
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 heat 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 suggest that neurons in the region of human Vc mediate the sensory aspect of pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287-7713.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seike
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gracely
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*