The neuroscience of itch in relation to transdiagnostic psychological approaches.
Sci Rep
; 14(1): 21476, 2024 09 14.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39277649
ABSTRACT
The experience of itch and its associated chronic conditions (i.e., atopic dermatitis) form a significant burden of disease. Knowledge of how the brain processes itch, that might occur uniquely for chronic itch populations, could be used to guide more effective psychotherapeutic interventions for these groups. To build the evidence base for such approaches, we conducted a series of coordinates-based fMRI analyses, to identify the shared neural mechanisms for itch across the published literature. Upon so doing, we identified a core "itch network" that spans the Basal Ganglia/Thalamus, Claustrum and Insula. Additionally, we found evidence that the Paracentral Lobule and Medial Frontal Gyrus, regions associated with cognitive control and response inhibition, deactivate during itch. Interestingly, a separate analysis for chronic itch populations identified significant recruitment of the Left Paracentral Lobule, potentially suggesting the recruitment of cognitive control mechanisms to resist the urge to scratch. We position these results in light of further integrative studies that could use neuroimaging alongside clinical studies, to explore how transdiagnostic psychological approaches-such as mindfulness and compassion training-might help to improve quality of life for individuals who experience chronic itch.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Prurito
/
Encéfalo
/
Imagen por Resonancia Magnética
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Sci Rep
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido