Recent anatomic and physiologic studies suggest that the primate ventral thalamic nucleus (human ventrocaudal nucleus - Vc) which receives innocuous mechanoreceptive input is also involved in nociception. Studies in animal models of chronic pain suggest that this same nucleus may be involved in some types of chronic pain. We propose to examine the role of human Vc in pain by studying thalamic single unit activity recorded as part of the physiologic localization required during stereotactic procedures for the treatment of pain and movement disorders. Initial studies will attempt to define nociceptive inputs to Vc by examining neuronal responses to application of quantitative somatosensory stimuli. In pain patients, spontaneous and evoked cellular activity will be studied in regions of Vc which represent parts of the body where the patient experiences pain. These studies will attempt to identify patterns of thalamic activity associated with human chronic pain. Finally, patterns of thalamic activity and psychophysical estimates of pain will be studied simultaneously. Patterns of thalamic activity will be interpreted in light of recent advances in thalamic physiology and so may identify intracellular mechanisms involved in thalamic activity related to chronic pain. These studies may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic pain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08NS001384-04
Application #
3084385
Study Section
Neurological Disorders Program Project Review A Committee (NSPA)
Project Start
1989-08-01
Project End
1994-07-31
Budget Start
1992-08-01
Budget End
1993-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
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Lenz, F A; Byl, N N (1999) Reorganization in the cutaneous core of the human thalamic principal somatic sensory nucleus (Ventral caudal) in patients with dystonia. J Neurophysiol 82:3204-12
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Zirh, T A; Lenz, F A; Reich, S G et al. (1998) Patterns of bursting occurring in thalamic cells during parkinsonian tremor. Neuroscience 83:107-21
Lenz, F A; Gracely, R H; Baker, F H et al. (1998) Reorganization of sensory modalities evoked by microstimulation in region of the thalamic principal sensory nucleus in patients with pain due to nervous system injury. J Comp Neurol 399:125-38
Perry, V L; Lenz, F A (1998) Ablative therapy for movement disorders. Thalamotomy for Parkinson's disease. Neurosurg Clin N Am 9:317-24
Lenz, F A; Garonzik, I M; Zirh, T A et al. (1998) Neuronal activity in the region of the thalamic principal sensory nucleus (ventralis caudalis) in patients with pain following amputations. Neuroscience 86:1065-81
Lenz, F A; Dougherty, P M (1998) Neurons in the human thalamic somatosensory nucleus (Ventralis caudalis) respond to innocuous cool and mechanical stimuli. J Neurophysiol 79:2227-30

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