Where is the Origin of Chronic Pain?

By -


https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190319112206.htm
Chronic pain has been an ongoing battle for many individuals, which seems to have no permanent cure. Chronic pain is classified as neuropathic; because there is impairment to the nerve cells. Examples of chronic pain include Rheumatoid Arthritis, Phantom Limb Syndrome, and side effects resulting from a stroke. There has been a new study that has been done by researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health Science Center at Houston and Baylor College of Medicine that have found new evidence as to where chronic pain originates from, as well as multiple target points for treating chronic pain. The research study looks at concentrated nerve cells that are found near the base of the spinal cord. This grouping of concentrated nerve cells, called the dorsal root ganglia, gave the researchers a once in a life time chance to study them due to them being removed by surgery from cancer patients. The researches classified different RNA terminologies in the dorsal root ganglia cells. These different RNA terminologies come from differing patients by a couple of varying factors; the amount of pain that they are in as well as their sex, whether they are male or female. The explanation for whether or not the patient was male, or female is because it was found that men and women have different amounts of pain depending on their sex. Using the specific sequencing with the RNA, the dorsal root ganglia cells aided an idea of biochemical pathways which may enable researchers to formulate pain-relieving medications. After careful analysis of the results of this study, it was found that studies done to rats for chronic pain have been successful in generalization, but there is a missing component, which is accuracy.
In class, we discussed the dorsal root ganglia cells when we were talking about hearing and vision; how the dorsal is located in the back and the ganglia cells are clusters of cells. The dorsal aspect was specifically brought up when talking about hearing and seeing. Dorsal is the “where” processing system. For example, when it comes to vision, the dorsal stream is involved in locating objects. Chronic pain is a crucial part in understanding how the brain and body work in conjunction with one another because there are pain pathways that send signals from the brain down to the body which in turn causes the body to feel pain. For example, if one were to burn their finger, there is a signal that gets sent to the spinal cord, which then sends a signal back to respond to that painful stimulus.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sniffing Pleasant Odors may Decrease Cigarette Cravings

By -
https://neurosciencenews.com/olfaction-cigarette-craving-11085/ Smoking today is known to be an addictive habit. In fact, a significant group of people who want to quit smoking will relapse after roughly two weeks of not smoking. However, a new study from the APA has shown that smokers who sniff a pleasant smell prior to smoking will have an easier time resisting the urge to smoke. In this study, the researchers selected 232 smokers from the ages of 18-55. First, the participants were exposed to multiple different smells and asked to identify the most pleasant smell to them. Then, participants were asked to light a cigarette and rate (from 1-100) their desire to smoke that cigarette. After the participants gave a rating, they were given a container to sniff the odor that each participant said was most pleasant. The results suggest that sniffing the pleasant odor while a cigarette was lit caused the craving of smoking the cigarette to decrease. The researchers believe that the ple...
Read more

Holding hands can sync brainwaves, ease pain, study shows

By -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301094822.htm Summary: Pain researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and University of Haifa did a studying showing just how far-reaching the simple act of touch can be. They have been studying a phenomenon known as “interpersonal synchronization”, which is the idea that people physiologically sync with those they are with. Pavel Goldstein is the first to look at brain wave synchronization and its relation to pain. He was compelled to do so after the birth of his daughter because it was through that experience he realized holding his wife’s hand helped to eased her pain. He decided to take this idea to the lab in hopes to unveil the science behind a healing touch. They found through their study that “…pain totally interrupts this interpersonal synchronization between couples and touch brings it back.” Touch is powerful and it may even activate pain-killing reward mechanisms in the brain. So if ever you find yourself i...
Read more

Music Therapy

By Laurel McNeal -
http:/ /www.brainfacts.org/Diseases-and-Disorders/Neurodegenerative-Disorders/2019/Music-as-Therapy-011719 Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia that effects memory, thinking, and behavior. In the U.S it is estimated that about 5.7 million people have Alzheimer’s and there is not a cure available. Leading caregivers to look for new ways to help their loved ones have a better day to day life. The article talks about how music therapy could help to manage symptoms like depression, anger, and agitation. Helping to improve patients mood and behavior, while decreasing the amount of medication they must take. The music does not cure the disease but does help to stimulate the brain. Music uses many different areas of the brain at one time. The brain must hear and process sounds, language, emotions, and if singing or dancing plan movements. In one research study scientist scanned the brains of dementia patients while they listened to music. One area the supplementa...
Read more