Afferent Pathways

Publication Title: 
The European Journal of Neuroscience

Functional imaging studies have identified a matrix of structures in the brain that respond to noxious stimuli. Within this matrix, a division of function between sensory-discriminative and affective responses has so far been demonstrated by manipulating either pain intensity or unpleasantness under hypnosis in two different normal volunteer groups studied on separate occasions.

Author(s): 
Kulkarni, B.
Bentley, D. E.
Elliott, R.
Youell, P.
Watson, A.
Derbyshire, S. W. G.
Frackowiak, R. S. J.
Friston, K. J.
Jones, A. K. P.
Publication Title: 
Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic & Clinical

BACKGROUND: Changes in heart rate variability (HRV) during anesthesia likely result from the interaction of hypnosis, surgical stimulation, analgesia and direct cardiovascular effects of drugs, but the interaction between these variables is unclear. This study was designed to characterize the impact of both surgical nociception and analgesia on HRV in propofol-anesthetized patients.

Author(s): 
Jeanne, Mathieu
Logier, Régis
De Jonckheere, Julien
Tavernier, Benoît
Publication Title: 
The Spanish Journal of Psychology

The authors of the present article based their assumption on the concept that the sensory systems are the "windows to the brain" through which various functions of the human organism can be controlled. Comprehension of the fundamental mechanisms of the optimization of the sensory systems, brain, and cardiac functions has increased based on the prolonged sensory flows using conscious and unconscious aromatherapy and multimodal sensory activation.

Author(s): 
Bykov, Anatolij T.
Malyarenko, Tatyana N.
Malyarenko, Yurij E.
Terentjev, Vladimir P.
Dyuzhikov, Alexandr A.
Publication Title: 
Experimental Brain Research

The scientific discovery of novel training paradigms has yielded better understanding of basic mechanisms underlying cortical plasticity, learning and development. This study is a first step in evaluating Tai Chi (TC), the Chinese slow-motion meditative exercise, as a training paradigm that, while not engaging in direct tactile stimulus training, elicits enhanced tactile acuity in long-term practitioners.

Author(s): 
Kerr, Catherine E.
Shaw, Jessica R.
Wasserman, Rachel H.
Chen, Vanessa W.
Kanojia, Alok
Bayer, Thomas
Kelley, John M.
Publication Title: 
Human Brain Mapping

The concept that specific acupuncture points have salubrious effects on distant target organ systems is a salient feature of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In this study, we used a multiple-session experiment to test whether electroacupuncture stimulation at two TCM vision-related acupoints, UB 60 and GB 37, located on the leg, could produce fMRI signal changes in the occipital regions of the brain, and the specificity of this effect when compared with stimulation at an adjacent non-acupoint (NAP). Six normal, acupuncture naive subjects completed the study.

Author(s): 
Kong, Jian
Kaptchuk, Ted J.
Webb, Julia Megan
Kong, Jiang-Ti
Sasaki, Yuka
Polich, Ginger R.
Vangel, Mark G.
Kwong, Kenneth
Rosen, Bruce
Gollub, Randy L.
Publication Title: 
Pain

Previous studies have defined low-frequency, spatially consistent networks in resting fMRI data which may reflect functional connectivity. We sought to explore how a complex somatosensory stimulation, acupuncture, influences intrinsic connectivity in two of these networks: the default mode network (DMN) and sensorimotor network (SMN). We analyzed resting fMRI data taken before and after verum and sham acupuncture. Electrocardiography data were used to infer autonomic modulation through measures of heart rate variability (HRV).

Author(s): 
Dhond, Rupali P.
Yeh, Calvin
Park, Kyungmo
Kettner, Norman
Napadow, Vitaly
Publication Title: 
Experimental Brain Research

The scientific discovery of novel training paradigms has yielded better understanding of basic mechanisms underlying cortical plasticity, learning and development. This study is a first step in evaluating Tai Chi (TC), the Chinese slow-motion meditative exercise, as a training paradigm that, while not engaging in direct tactile stimulus training, elicits enhanced tactile acuity in long-term practitioners.

Author(s): 
Kerr, Catherine E.
Shaw, Jessica R.
Wasserman, Rachel H.
Chen, Vanessa W.
Kanojia, Alok
Bayer, Thomas
Kelley, John M.
Publication Title: 
Pain

Previously, we demonstrated that placebo analgesia (PA) accompanies reductions in neural activity during painful stimulation. This study investigated areas of the brain where the neural activity was increased during PA. The literature has associated PA with two potential mechanisms of action; one sustained (e.g., engaged for the duration of PA), the other, transitory (e.g., a feedback mechanism). We propose that PA results from the engagement of two complementary pain-modulation mechanisms that are identified with fMRI data as a main effect for condition or a time *condition interaction.

Author(s): 
Craggs, Jason G.
Price, Donald D.
Perlstein, William M.
Verne, G. Nicholas
Robinson, Michael E.
Publication Title: 
Gastroenterology

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Only a fraction of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have increased perceptual sensitivity to rectal distension, indicating differences in processing and/or modulation of visceral afferent signals. We investigated the brain mechanisms of these perceptual differences. METHODS: We analyzed data from 44 women with IBS and 20 female healthy subjects (controls). IBS symptom severity was determined by a severity scoring system. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression score.

Author(s): 
Larsson, Mats B. O.
Tillisch, Kirsten
Craig, A. D.
Engström, Maria
Labus, Jennifer
Naliboff, Bruce
Lundberg, Peter
Ström, Magnus
Mayer, Emeran A.
Walter, Susanna A.
Publication Title: 
American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology

Glucose in the gut lumen activates gut endocrine cells to release 5-HT, glucagon-like peptide 1/2 (GLP-1/2), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which act to change gastrointestinal function and regulate postprandial plasma glucose. There is evidence that both release and action of incretin hormones is reduced in type 2 diabetes (T2D). We measured cellular activation of enteroendocrine and enterochromaffin cells, enteric neurons, and vagal afferent neurons in response to intestinal glucose in a model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the UCD-T2DM rat.

Author(s): 
Lee, Jennifer
Cummings, Bethany P.
Martin, Elizabeth
Sharp, James W.
Graham, James L.
Stanhope, Kimber L.
Havel, Peter J.
Raybould, Helen E.

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