Abstract
Recent neuroimaging studies have shown that there are several brain areas that are activated by noxious stimuli, such as the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices. However, many of them are also activated by innocuous somatosensory stimuli, sensory stimuli other than the somatosensory system, or even tasks without sensory inputs, suggesting that the majority of brain activation in the so-called ‘pain matrix’ reflect event-related endogenous responses but not stimulus-related exogenous responses. For example, any somatosensory stimuli activate the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, and any sensory stimuli activate the insula and the anterior cingulate gyrus. Therefore, pain-specific regions in the brain are not known. The physiological significance of well-known activations following noxious stimuli is an interesting matter, but to understand the mechanism of pain perception, the cortical nociceptive pathway starting with the primary nociceptive cortex and its origin in the thalamus should be determined at first.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
