title: Central mechanisms of itch.
abstract: Itch is a complex sensory and emotional experience. Functional brain imaging studies have been performed to identify brain regions associated with this complex experience, and these studies reported that several brain regions are activated by itch stimuli. The possible roles of these regions in itch perception and difference in cerebral mechanism between healthy subjects and chronic itch patients are discussed in this review article. Additionally, the central itch modulation system and cerebral mechanisms of contagious itch, pleasurable sensation evoked by scratching have also been investigated in previous brain imaging studies. We also discuss how these studies advance our understanding of these mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Department of Dermatology and Temple Itch Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: hideki.mochizuki@tuhs.temple.edu.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryusuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakigi
mesh_terms: D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Central itch modulation; Contagious itch; Functional brain imaging; Itch; Scratching-induced pleasurability