Central nervous system mechanisms of pain inhibition and sensitisation (2016)

  • Description: 

    The course is aimed at students working on their PhD in the field of pain and nociception. Noxious stimuli evoke sensorimotor reflexes, cortical potentials, responses in the autonomic nervous system, and emotions. Robust and prolonged nociceptive input may induce peripheral and central sensitisation due to inflammation or lesions of the nervous system. Various somatosensory, psychological and pharmacological interventions are able to modulate these correlates of nociception and pain via neuronal networks in the brainstem. These supraspinal circuitries cause descending inhibition and facilitation of pain. The course deals with anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology of the nociceptive system and its modulation by brainstem modulatory circuitries.  

     

    Topics:

    • Peripheral sensitisation
    • Central spinal sensitization
    • Experimental models
    • Supraspinal descending inhibitory systems
    • Descending facilitatory impact on nociception
    • Diffuse noxious inhibitory control

     

    Literature

    • McMahon SB and Koltzenburg M, Textbook of Pain, Elsevier, 2006
    • Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessell TM, Principles of Neural Science, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2000
    • Melzack R and Wall P, The Challenge of Pain, Penguin Books, 1991
    • http://www.iasp-pain.org/

     

    Prerequisites: The participant should have basic knowledge within pain and nociception.

     

    Evaluation: Multiple choice questions in the last session.

  • Organizer: Professor Ole K. Andersen, e-mail: oka@hst.aau.dk

  • Lecturers: Professor Ole K. Andersen, Assistant Professor Dejan Ristic, Associate Professor Parisa Gazerani, Aalborg University

  • ECTS: 1.5

  • Time: 16 September, 4, 11, 25 October, 4 November (8.15-10.00, except 4 October 8.15-12.00)

  • Place: 16/9 + 4/10 + 25/10 + 4/11: Fredrik Bajers Vej 7D2-106, 11/10: Fredrik Bajers Vej 7E/3-209

  • Zip code: 9220

  • City: Aalborg  

  • Number of seats: 30

  • Deadline: 31 August, 2016

  • Important information concerning PhD courses: 

    We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 5,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately three months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.