Nociceptive neurons in the macaque anterior cingulate... : NeuroReport (original) (raw)

Somatosensory Systems, pain

Nociceptive neurons in the macaque anterior cingulate activate during anticipation of pain

1Department of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 4848506

2Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan

3Corresponding Author: Akichika Mikami

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We thank Masato Inoue for the assistance in the data analysis.

Received 26 May 1998; accepted 7 June 1998

Abstract

SINCE the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is known to be involved both in nociception and in anticipation that precedes the avoidance of aversive stimuli, the linking of these functions may be processed in the ACC. To test this hypothesis, we recorded single neuronal activities in the ACC of a macaque monkey while it was performing a pain-avoidance task and examined them with nociceptive cutaneous electric stimuli (ES). Thirty-six neurons responded in anticipation of the ES. Of these, 22 neurons were tested with the ES and 11 responded. These neurons could be those that are involved both in nociception and in pain anticipation that precedes the avoidance of noxious stimuli.