Thalamic processing of pain and putative control by cortical feedback (G01)

丘脑感觉加工、皮质反馈和痛觉之间的关系尚不清楚，尤其是丘脑活动模式的病理生理变化与疼痛的慢性化之间的关系。我们将使用电生理学、神经元活动的细胞类型特异性调节以及清醒行为小鼠的行为分析来解决丘脑疼痛处理及其对皮质反馈电路的依赖。了解丘脑功能和调节的病理生理变化与慢性疼痛的发生发展有关，有助于我们建立丘脑运行状态和疼痛感知之间的因果关系，对于确定潜在的疼痛治疗靶点具有重要意义。

The relationship between thalamic sensory processing, cortical feedback and pain perception is not clear, in particular between pathophysiological changes in thalamic activity patterns and the chronicity of pain. We will address thalamic pain processing and its dependency to cortical feedback circuits using electrophysiology, cell-type specific modulation of neuronal activity, and behavioural assays in awake, behaving mice. Understanding pathophysiological changes in thalamic function and regulation that are associated with the development of chronic pain will help us to establish a causal relationship between thalamic operational states and pain perception and will be important for the identification of potential targets for pain treatment.