Analysis of nociceptive information encoded in the temporal discharge patterns of cutaneous C-fibers

Autor: Kyeongwon Cho, Jun Ho Jang, Sung-Phil Kim, Sang Hoon Lee, Soon-Cheol Chung, In Young Kim, Dong Pyo Jang, SUNG JUN JUNG
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2016
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, Vol 10 (2016)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1662-5188
DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2016.00118
Popis: The generation of pain signals from primary afferent neurons is explained by a labeled-line code. However, this notion cannot apply in a simple way to cutaneous C-fibers, which carry signals from a variety of receptors that respond to various stimuli including agonist chemicals. To represent the discharge patterns of C-fibers according to different agonist chemicals, we have developed a quantitative approach using three consecutive spikes. By using this method, the generation of pain in response to chemical stimuli is shown to be dependent on the temporal aspect of the spike trains. Furthermore, under pathological conditions, gamma-aminobutyric acid resulted in pain behavior without change of spike number but with an altered discharge pattern. Our results suggest that information about the agonist chemicals may be encoded in specific temporal patterns of signals in C-fibers, and nociceptive sensation may be influenced by the extent of temporal summation originating from the temporal patterns.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals