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The cerebellum: a newly discovered circuitry basis for cognitive pain modulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Chen et al. investigate the neural basis of placebo analgesia in their recent Nature study, revealing the role of the cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway. Using a placebo analgesia condition animal model, they show that expectations of pain relief are encoded through direct connections from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) to the pontine nucleus (PN) and subsequently affect cerebellar regions linked to cognition. The study finds that placebo analgesia enhances rACC neuron activity and boosts calcium signaling in cerebellar Purkinje cells via Oprd1 -expressing PN neurons. These results underscore the cerebellum’s involvement in cognitive pain modulation and suggest that targeting this pathway could offer new approaches for pain relief, including advanced neurostimulation and tailored cognitive therapies.

Source: Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases

DOI: 10.20517/and.2024.26

Authors: Qiqi Jia, Lihong Chen, Tianbai Li

Institutions: Dalian Medical University, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Pain Management and Placebo Effect

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province