Cholecystokinin input from the anterior cingulate cortex to the lateral periaqueductal gray mediates nocebo pain behavior in mice - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Neural Circuitry
- #Nocebo Effect
- #Pain Hyperalgesia
- The study develops mouse models to show cholecystokinin (CCK)-dependent nocebo hyperalgesia, where expectation of pain from contextual or social cues increases pain sensitivity.
- A neural circuit involving CCK release from anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neurons projecting to the lateral periaqueductal gray (lPAG) is identified as mediating nocebo pain behavior.
- This pathway is suggested as a potential therapeutic target for pain-related disorders, with implications from human studies where CCK receptor antagonists block nocebo hyperalgesia.