A POPULATION OF CELLS IN THE HUMAN THALAMIC PRINCIPAL SENSORY NUCLEUSRESPOND TO PAINFUL MECHANICAL STIMULI

A population of neurons located in the cutaneous core of the principal sensory nucleus of human thalamus (ventralis caudalis, Vc) has been i dentified that had their maximal response to mechanical stimuli which were perceived as painful by the patients involved. None of these cell s responded to painful thermal stimuli. The graded responses of these cells to mechanical stimuli extending into the painful range suggest t hey both mediate acute pain in response to mechanical stimuli and part icipate in mechanical hyperalgesia.