„Central pain generator“ arises from partially preserved spinothalamic tract neurons

Central pain following lesions within the central nervous system is the most excrutiating and most difficult type of neuropathic pain to treat. Abnormal neuronal activity following spinothalamic tract damage is suggested to be the underlying pain mechanism. The origin of this 'central pain generator' as well as the role of the central pain pathway is unclear, since the same deficits in spinothalamic tract function were found in patients with and without pain. In the present study central pain patients with complete spinal cord lesion were investigated in the skin area, in which pain was perceived. Spinothalamic…