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Open Access 01-02-2018 | Review

Advances in understanding nociception and neuropathic pain

Author: Ewan St. John Smith

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 2/2018

Abstract

Pain results from the activation of a subset of sensory neurones termed nociceptors and has evolved as a “detect and protect” mechanism. However, lesion or disease in the sensory system can result in neuropathic pain, which serves no protective function. Understanding how the sensory nervous system works and what changes occur in neuropathic pain are vital in identifying new therapeutic targets and developing novel analgesics. In recent years, technologies such as optogenetics and RNA-sequencing have been developed, which alongside the more traditional use of animal neuropathic pain models and insights from genetic variations in humans have enabled significant advances to be made in the mechanistic understanding of neuropathic pain.

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Title: Advances in understanding nociception and neuropathic pain
Author: Ewan St. John Smith
Publication date: 01-02-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Neurology / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8641-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Advances in understanding nociception and neuropathic pain

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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