Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Pain Processing in the Human Brain

Contrary to the traditional view that the cerebral cortex is not involved in pain perception, an extensive cortical network associated with pain processing has been revealed during the past decades. This network essentially includes the primary (S1) and secondary somatosensory cortices (S2) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In a series of studies we investigated the spatial and temporal characteristics of pain processing within these cortical areas by using magnetoencephalography and selective nociceptive cutaneous laser stimulation. Time courses of activations show that within this cortical network the p…