Neurobiology of pain.

Abstract

The neurobiology of pain has had extensive research directed at identifying the mechanisms of nociceptive transmission and integration. Clinical conditions of chronic pain including phantom limb pain cannot be explained without an understanding of the complex mechanisms of pain regulation. An overview of the neurobiological organization of the nociceptive system, from different pain fiber types to subcortical and cortical experiential centers, is presented, along with a brief description of the known cross talk within the system and between pain pathways and those for other information. Finally, interactions between affective, executive, and cognitive processes and pain experiences are described briefly.