Clinical application of pain therapy based on basic studies on human pain perception.

本研究的主要目的是利用各种非侵入性的神经成像方法研究人脑的痛觉机制，并在基础研究的基础上开发新的疼痛缓解疗法。在对健康志愿者的研究中，我们阐明了“头脑中的疼痛”的机制，以及大脑激活感知快速(尖锐)疼痛和缓慢(燃烧)疼痛的差异。在对顽固性疼痛患者的研究中，我们与神经外科医生一起开发了一些新的方法。

The main objectives of this research project were to investigate mechanisms of pain perception in human brain by using various kinds of non-invasive neuroimaging methods and to develop new therapies for pain alleviation based on basic studies. In the studies in healthy volunteers, we clarified the mechanisms of "pain in mind", and differences of brain activation to perceive quick (sharp) pain and slow (burning) pain. In the studies of patients suffering from intractable pain, we developed some new methods with neurosurgeons.