Main description:

This book successfully explores cellular and molecular mechanisms of chronic pain based on recent basic neurobiological investigations. By focusing on major breakthroughs in basic neurosciences, it is believed to contain the promise for future new pain drug discovery.Instead of repeating extensive reviews of basic animal and clinical observations, the book provides a novel neuronal model that is believed to be the key target for treating chronic pain. In addition, it reviews and validates animal models developed for studying basic mechanisms of pain and chronic pain, and the current medicine used to treat chronic pain as well as alternative pain treatment. The final few chapters also cover how pain may interfere with other high brain functions, such as fear, anxiety, sleep, memory, etc.

Contents:

Basic Neurosciences and Pain; Peripheral Nociceptors and Sensitization; Spinal Transmission and Fate Control; Silent Synapses and LTP; Cortical LTP; Cortical LTD; Cortical Sensitization; NMDA NR2B; Pain, Fear and Cognition; Descending Modulation; Novel Drug Targets; Alternative Treatment of Chronic Pain.