Letters to the editor

Abstract

The recent article by Craig identifies the spinal trajectories of some lamina I neurons of the monkey. 1 Craig AD Spinal location of ascending lamina I axons in the macaque monkey. J Pain. 2000; 1: 33-45 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (22) Google Scholar Although this work clarifies to some extent the locations of these axons within the spinal cord white matter, much of Craig's discussion section is devoted to preserving the idea that lamina I and lamina V neurons have important roles in pain. Although I have no quarrel with this general view, I find Craig's representation of our work and ideas 2 Price DD Dubner R Neurons that subserve the sensory discriminative aspects of pain. Pain. 1977; 3: 307-388 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (303) Google Scholar on the role of lamina V wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons erroneous and consequently misleading. In the first place, citing our article as supportive of “…the view that lamina V neurons were the necessary and sufficient basis for association of the STT with pain” is inappropriate, because this view was never stated anywhere in the article. Instead, we stated that “Although some assumptions must be made about the similarity between nociceptive neurons in man and monkey, these results indicate that selective activation of dorsal horn wide dynamic range neurons is a sufficient condition to produce pain.” 2 Price DD Dubner R Neurons that subserve the sensory discriminative aspects of pain. Pain. 1977; 3: 307-388 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (303) Google Scholar Necessary and sufficient is very different than sufficient.