Cortical LTP: A synaptic model for chronic pain

Abstract

Cumulative evidence indicates that cortical synapses not only play important roles in pain perception and related emotional functions but also undergo long-term potentiation (LTP) and contribute to chronic pain. LTP is found at two key cortical regions such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insular cortex (IC), and inhibition of cortical LTP produces analgesic effects as well as anxiolytic effects. In this chapter, I will summarize our work on ACC and IC and provide evidence for calcium-stimulated AC1 as a key molecule for cortical LTP and chronic pain.