Curr Neuropharmacol
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Curr Neuropharmacol · Jan 2016
ReviewRole of Neuromodulation and Optogenetic Manipulation in Pain Treatment.
Neuromodulation, including invasive and non-invasive stimulation, has been used to treat intractable chronic pain. However, the mechanisms by which neuromodulation produces antinociceptive effect still remain uncertain. ⋯ Here, we discuss the principles of two neuromodulation methods (deep brain stimulation and motor cortex stimulation) and their applications in pain treatment. More important, we summarize the new information from recent studies regarding optogenetic manipulation in neuroscience research and its potential utility in pain study.