Neurobiology of Pain
A major focus of the laboratory is to investigate the role of septohippocampal region of the forebrain in pain. Pain is subject to a powerful modulation by the central nervous system that may suppress or enhance the pain experience. Indeed, acute inactivation of synaptic transmission through the hippocampal formation attenuates pain-like behavior in a rat model of persistent inflammatory pain.
The laboratory has reported action potential signaling and changes in transcription protein such as c-Fos in the hippocampus following injection of the pain-inducing agent formalin. Taking this forward, the laboratory is addressing the following issues:
- What is the physiological and neurochemical basis of influence of pain stimulus on activity of neurons in the septum and the hippocampus?
- What is the impact of manipulation of the septum and hippocampus on transmission of pain signal and pain behavior?
- Do analgesics mediate their effects via the septum and the hippocampus?
It is anticipated that such focussed research will facilitate search for neurochemical, pharmacological and molecular interventions that modulate pain.
Team Members
- Sanjay Khanna (Principal Investigator)
- Zhou Mingyi (Research Assistant)
- Mohammed Zacky Bin Ariffin (Graduate Student)
- Lee Thiam Huat, Andy (Graduate Student)
- Esther Chang (Laboratory Officer)