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The brain’s internal clock controls daily changes in pain
Updated
Abstract
Essence
A hypothalamic clock-to-analgesia circuit may time daily pain sensitivity in neuropathic pain.
Evidence
Mouse neuropathic pain experiments found daytime SCN VIP activity signaled through PVN and vlPAG to increase nociceptive sensitivity, with lower nighttime activity reducing sensitivity.
Caveat
The work is preclinical in mice, so whether targeting this circuit improves human chronic pain is untested.
Simplified
Circadian Biology