Supraspinal electrophysiological models for studying chronic pain

Electrophysiology has been intensively used in studying molecular mechanisms of pain transmission, modulation and plasticity. In vitro slice recordings provided detailed information on synaptic transmission and plasticity under both physiological and pathological pain conditions. In vivo recordings integrate the information of functional activities in the nociceptive pathway. Combination of electrophysiology with genetically manipulated mice, new behavioral models, in vivo/in vitro imaging and molecular biology will identify new molecular targets for controlling chronic pain in the future.

Section editor:Min Zhuo – University of Toronto, Canada