An itch to be scratched.
The description of itch (formally known as pruritus) as an "unpleasant sensation that elicits the desire or reflex to scratch" (Ikoma et al., 2006) is immediately familiar. Research in the field of pruritoception has added to our understanding of this area of sensory neurobiology as it pertains to both normal and pathological conditions. In particular, much progress has been made on the mechanisms and circuits of itch, which we review here.
The Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Center for Sensory Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Kush N
KN
Patel
Xinzhong
X
Dong
D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology