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Review on Amygdala-Brainstem Neural Circuitry of Antinociception

The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology / The Korean Journal of Cognitive and Biological Psychology, (P)1226-9654; (E)2733-466X
2008, v.20 no.2, pp.73-94
https://doi.org/10.22172/cogbio.2008.20.2.003

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Abstract

Exposure of organisms to a threatening environment often reduces their pain sensitivity to peripheral nociceptive stimulation. The present review was processed based on a considerable amount of existing neurobiological/psychological evidence to provide a comprehensive understanding of the amygdala-brainstem neural mechanisms of the stress-induced antinociception. Brainstem areas including the PAG and the RVM are critical for descending antinociception. The amygdala is neuroanatomically and functionally connected to these brainstem areas. Stimulation of the amygdala cells following presentation of fear-inducing stimuli to organisms activates the descending antinociceptive system of the brainstem, leading to inhibition of pain. Antinociception is now believed to arise from interactions between opioid and non-opioid synapses in this brain circuitry. Notably, the activity of an antinociceptive cell in this brain circuitry is suggested to be determined by a fine balance, or neural integration between excitatory (i.e., glutamatergic, neurotensinergic, or VIPergic) input and mu-opioid regulated inhibitory (i.e., GABAergic) input onto this cell. The author further discussed some implications of recent observations on amygdala antinociceptive mechanisms, via reflecting them onto findings from studies on other fear responses including freezing in the rodent.

keywords
공포, 항유해 작용, 편도체, 뇌간, 비아편물질, 신경회로, fear, antinociception, amygdala, brainstem, non-opioid, neural circuitry., fear, antinociception, amygdala, brainstem, non-opioid, neural circuitry.

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