Cellular basis and mechanisms underlying the role of the prefrontal cortex in nociception and chronic pain (B01)

• Subject Area: Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells ; Human Genetics
• Term: since 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 255156212

The neocortex is most frequently activated in pain, but is also associated with a number of pain-unrelated cognitive and emotional functions. Project B01 has addressed region-specific contributions of prefrontal, sensory and motor cortical areas to acute and chronic pain and uncovered cellular determinants, connectivity and mechanisms of specificity using optogenetics, in vivo electrophysiology and behaviour in mice. In the third funding period, we plan to investigate neurobiological mechanisms underlying neurostimulation of neocortical areas in mice and use these to optimize pain relief in chronic pain. We will also build upon our findings of interactions between chronic pain and long-term fear to extinguish fear for achieving pain relief.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1158: From nociception to chronic pain: Structure-function properties of neural pathways and their reorganisation
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Rohini Kuner